Immigration Raid: Over 900 expats checked, 81 arrested in 2 hours

Maldives Immigration has detained 81 expatriates on Tuesday during a raid carried out in Male' City targeting illegal immigrants.

Immigration said in an X post that a major raid was conducted from 16:00 to 18:00 this Tuesday evening.

During the raid, Immigration searched 463 places and checked 932 foreigners. Of these, 81 illegal immigrants were apprehended, according to immigration.

Similarly, Immigration noted that information on 10 places where foreigners were engaged in illegal business was shared with the relevant authorities.

160 immigration officers, 66 policemen and other relevant agencies participated in the raid.

Police and Immigration are conducting a national operation to track down irregular foreigners and deport them immediately. The operation on Sunday alone, apprehended 24 foreigners.

The operation will be conducted in three phases and action will be taken against foreigners and locals who run illegal businesses, Immigration Controller General Ahmed Faseeh had said.

Faseeh said the operation to track down illegally trading foreigners would not be an easy one. There are influential people and businessmen behind it, he said, adding that the work will succeed only if 'serious' work is done.