Seven detained in raids on crowded Male’ expat accommodations

Seven expatriates were detained from Male’ City on Monday, in ongoing raids by Maldives Immigration targeting irregular expatriates living in crowded and unsafe accommodation blocks in the Maldivian capital.

Immigration launched a special operation on September 10 targeting overcrowded accommodations and ones that pose a threat to public safety.

In a post on X on Wednesday morning, Immigration said its taskforce searched four properties on Monday as part of the operation. This includes two houses and two teashops.

“Seven expatriates living there irregularly were detained by Immigration,” said the agency.

އާންމު ސަލާމަތާއި ރައްކާތެރިކަމަށް ނުރައްކާވާފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް، ތޮއްޖެހިގެން ބިދޭސީން ދިރިއުޅެމުން އަންނަ އެކޮމޮޑޭޝަން ބްލޮކްތައް ބަލައި ފާސްކުރުމަށް ޓާސްކު ފޯސް އިން ހިންގަމުންދާ އޮޕަރޭޝަންގައި 2024 ސެޕްޓެންބަރު 16 ވަނަ ދުވަހު ވަނީ މާލެއިން 04 ތަނެއް ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައި.… pic.twitter.com/qHfORi3mSr

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 18, 2024

Four more irregular expatriates were detained in a similar raid on an accommodation block in Hulhumale’ on Sunday.

Immigration has warned it will take action against landowners who rent such accommodations to irregular expatriates.

އާންމު ސަލާމަތާއި ރައްކާތެރިކަމަށް ނުރައްކާވާފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް، ތޮއްޖެހިގެން ބިދޭސީން ދިރިއުޅެމުން އަންނަ އެކޮމޮޑޭޝަން ބްލޮކްތައް ބަލައި ފާސްކުރުމަށް ޓާސްކު ފޯސް އިން ހިންގަމުންދާ އޮޕަރޭޝަންގައި އިއްޔެ ވަނީ ހުޅުމާލެއިން ތަނެއް ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށް، ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އެތަނުގައި ތިބި 04… pic.twitter.com/dpIAHUHEmA

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 16, 2024

It added that the special operation will cover all accommodations in Male’ area that house irregular expatriates.

The purpose of this special operation is to provide a quick remedy to the longstanding issue of illegal immigration in the Maldives, said the agency.

Immigration has previously said it hopes to provide a permanent solution to the issue within the next two to three years.