Maldives’ authorities detain expat accused of cooking and selling cat meat

A Bangladeshi worker accused of killing stray cats and cooking its meat to prepare meal parcels for sale, has been detained by the Maldivian authorities.

Arafat Hossain, 32, was detained from Male’ City on Tuesday.

The cause gained public attention following a post on social media the previous day by local NGO, Feline Welfare Organization.

The animal rights group identified Arafat as an undocumented migrant who works at the Valhoamas Market in Male’ City.

It said that he was suspected of “butchering, cooking, eating and selling cat meat.”

Following the post, the Maldives Immigration issued a notice for Arafat to present himself to the agency’s headquarters within five days.

A police spokesperson said he was taken into police custody from Male’ at around 10:32 am Tuesday.

Maldives Immigration wrote on X that Arafat was detained with the assistance of police based on a tip received by the agency’s Intelligence Department.

The cause has sparked public uproar, with many taking to social media to demand that the authorities disclose where Arafat sold the cat meat to, and when.

It has also raised questions regarding the implementation of food safety standards.

The case was reported to the police by the Animal Welfare Ministry. A ministry spokesperson told Sun that the case was brought to the ministry’s attention by a private citizen on Monday morning, and that the ministry subsequently filed a police complaint.

The spokesperson added that the Home Ministry is also keeping a close eye on the case.

The case comes amid a crackdown by Maldives Immigration on illegal migration. The authorities have raided multiple locations in the capital as part of the operation, many of them rundown houses where food items sold at stores and cafes and restaurants are prepared in unhygienic environments.