Speaking in a press conference held at Coastguard building to share details of the work carried out over the past one year period by the Defense Ministry and institutions under their authority, Minister Nazim said that 6,590 expatriate workers had left the country, using the opportunity provided under voluntary departure program, and that 896 expatriate workers were sent off after being found out to be working in the country illegally, and 69 - who’s health did not allow them to perform their jobs sufficiently. “122 parties – consisting of both companies and private citizens were fined for harboring illegal expatriate workers. 21 raid operations were conducted to control the amount of illegal expatriates – that is in Addu City, Laamu Atoll, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, and Kaafu Atoll,” said the minister. The minister said that 407 foreigners were deported the past one year period due to various reasons. Preliminary results of National Census conducted last September shows there to be 58,683 expatriates living in the country. The minister however, said that the figure did not even come close to the real expatriate population of the country. “The statistics in the Census are not accurate. Our records shoe there to be more than that number. I think this is because of expatriates withholding information, or [Census officials] being unable to locate expatriates. Looking at all our statistics – our records show there to be 120,000 expatriates living [in the country],” he said. The ministry estimates about 30,000 expatriates to be living in the country illegally – an issue over which the Minister blames public negligence. The minister said that some members of the public employed and hid illegal expatriate workers. He said that it was the civic duty of the people to send away such workers, and asked for the public’s cooperation and assistance in solving the issue.