Task Force Detains Foreigner in Malé Shop Raid Amid Ongoing Immigration Crackdown
Immigration Task Force Detaining a Foreign National from a Shop | Photo credit: Maldives Immigration
A foreign national has been apprehended by immigration authorities following a raid on a shop in Malé last night as part of ongoing operations targeting irregular migration.
According to officials, the individual was found to be working illegally and has since been apprehended by Maldives Immigration. No further details regarding the detainee’s gender or nationality were disclosed.
advertisement
ގަވާއިދާހިލާފަށްއުޅޭ ބިދޭސީން ހޯދުމަށްޓަކައި ޓާސްކް ފޯސްއިން ކުރިއަށްގެންދާ އޮޕަރޭޝަންތަކުގައި، ރޭ ވަނީ މާލޭގައި ހިންގަމުންދާ ފިހާރައެއް ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށް، އެތަނުގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރަމުންދިއަ 01 ބިދޭސީއަކު އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ ބެލުމުގެ ދަށަށް ގެނެވިފައި.@PoliceMv pic.twitter.com/wRcZUvDIZg— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) April 14, 2025
The raid forms part of a broader nationwide crackdown on undocumented expatriates, a campaign that began in 2023. Since its launch, more than 6,000 foreign nationals have been deported from the Maldives, according to official figures.
In parallel, the government has been implementing ‘Operation Kurangi’, a large-scale initiative aimed at collecting biometric data from all expatriates living in the country. The Ministry of Homeland Security reported on 19 March that over 100,000 expatriates have had their biometric data recorded since the programme was launched on 2 May 2024. This includes approximately 65,000 individuals residing in the Greater Malé area.
Authorities have stated that the full implementation of ‘Operation Kurangi’ is expected to offer a long-term solution to the issue of irregular migration in the Maldives.
