A foreign national has been apprehended for illegal retail activities within the city, following a targeted raid by the Maldives Immigration aimed at curbing unlawful commercial activities conducted by immigrants.
The arrest occurred subsequent to intelligence received by immigration authorities indicating that the individual was managing several small-scale retail outlets across the city. The operation resulted in the detention of the suspect, as confirmed by immigration officials.
Accompanying the foreigner were three men and one woman, all foreign nationals, who were found to be engaged in illegal employment at the premises located in Male’ city.
Yesterday, the Maldives Immigration conducted operations resulting in the arrest of four foreigners across two locations in Hulhumale’. These actions are part of broader efforts by immigration authorities to clamp down on illicit commercial activities across Maldives. The targeted operations encompassed markets, cafes, shops, and spas within the city, targeting unauthorized businesses, illicit traders, currency smugglers, and individuals involved in prostitution.
The total tally of arrests in such operations now stands at 64, with all individuals currently under immigration custody. Immigration officials have indicated that further operations are planned.
Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, Controller General of Immigration. Shamaan has confirmed that the efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants will continue without pause.
Mohammed Shamaan Waheed, the Controller General of Immigration, emphasized the importance of compliance with the Immigration Act and its associated regulations. Shamaan underscored that employing unauthorized foreign workers in the Maldives constitutes an offense under Section 30 of the Immigration Act. The Controller General of Immigration retains the authority to levy fines up to 50,000 MVR on offenders and to retain their passports for specified periods.
The Government of Maldives is actively addressing this issue through strategic initiatives. It plans to extend these efforts to encompass all islands nationwide over the coming year, establishing a centralized database for streamlined access to immigrant information. Additionally, the government is committed to resolving the challenge of illegal immigration entirely within a three-year timeframe.
