Thirteen expatriates have been taken into detention by Maldives Immigration from a place where food products were being prepared for sale in conditions that pose public health risks.
immigration said that these expatriates had been detained through a raid operation conducted by their officers. They said that expatriates conducting business there, as well as those living against Immigration laws had been detained from the premises.
A video shared after the operation shows food items being produced in unsanitary conditions in a small space.
The space also contained rows of beds accommodating some of the expatriates.
2025 ޖަނަވަރީ 23 ވަނަ ދުވަހު ޓާސްކުފޯހުން މާލޭގައި ހިންގި ރެއިޑު އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއްގައި، އާންމު ސިއްހަތަށް ނުރައްކާވާ ގޮތަށް، ބިދޭސީން ދިރިއުޅެ، ވިޔަފާރި ކުރަމުންދިއަ ތަނެއް ވަނީ ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައި. އަދި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް މިތަނުގައި އުޅެމުންދިއަ 13 ބިދޭސީއަކު ވަނީ އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ… pic.twitter.com/TYaweEshqg— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) January 25, 2025
It is illegal for expatriates to conduct businesses in the Maldives. Immigration is conducting operations to identify and shut down such businesses.
Immigration also launched the 'Immigration Watch' portal last year, via which the public can submit reports and complaints of such activities being conducted by expatriates.
Immigration has earlier said that over 1000 cases were reported via the portal within four months of its launch.
In the past year or so, over 5000 expatriates have been deported for violation of Immigration laws and regulations.