Immigration Detain 10 Expatriates Following Raids
Photo: Immigration Department
The Immigration Department continued its operation to round up undocumented migrant workers yesterday, conducting raids across the greater Male region.
In a social media post, Immigration reported that six vietnamese foreign women and one ugandan woman were detained on suspicion of prostitution. Additionally, two bangladeshi foreign men, believed to be working as agents for prostitution businesses, were also taken into custody.
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ރާއްޖޭގައި ފުޅާދާއިރާއެއްގައި ހަށިވިއްކުމުގެ ވިޔަފާރިކުރަމުންދިއަ ބިދޭސީން ހޯދުމަށް އިމިގްރޭޝަނާއި ފުލުހުން ގުޅިގެން ހިންގި ހާއްސަ އިންސްޕެކްޝަންތަކެއްގައި ބިދޭސީ 07 އަންހެނަކާއި އެޖެންޓުންގެ ގޮތުގައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުންދިއަ ބިދޭސީ 02 ފިރިހެނަކު ވަނީ އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ ބެލުމުގެ… pic.twitter.com/cjZOti9mKK— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) December 21, 2024
Raids were also carried out in small businesses in the Hiyaa flats, Hulhumale Phase 2. Immigration officers inspected four cafes, restaurants, and bakeries, as well as one salon. Three foreign workers employed in two of these businesses were detained.
ހުޅުމާލޭ ފޭސް 2ގެ ހިޔާ ފުލެޓުތަކުގައި ހިންގަމުންދާ ވިޔަފާރިތަކަށް ހާއްސަކޮށް އިއްޔެ ވަނީ ރެއިޑު އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ހިންގާފައި. އެގޮތުން 08 ފިހާރަ، 04 ކެފޭ/ރެސްޓޯރަންޓު/ބޭކަރީ އަދި 01 ސެލޫން ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައިވޭ. މީގެތެރެއިން ދެ ތަނެއްގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުންދިއަ 03… pic.twitter.com/dWyO3wHO9B— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) December 22, 2024
These arrests are part of the ongoing Operation Kurangi, a multi-agency initiative aimed at cracking down on undocumented migrant workers. The operation includes efforts to collect biometric information from all migrant workers and to detain those without proper documentation. As of last month, the government announced it had deported over 5,000 undocumented migrant workers.
Many migrant workers in the Maldives are reported to lack the necessary documentation, with numerous cases of exploitation by employers and recruitment agencies. A research paper published earlier this year revealed that more than 70% of Bangladeshi migrant workers in the Maldives were without their passports, with 40% claiming they had been confiscated by agencies or agents.
While the government asserts that its operation offers pathways for the regularisation of undocumented migrant workers, it has not provided details on how many individuals have been regularised through the process.
