Maldives Immigration has detained five illegal migrants in an operation carried out on Thursday night.
Immigration, via a post on X on Friday, said Thursday night’s operation was targeted towards migrants without a valid visa and migrants engaged in illegal business activities.
The authority detailed that its task force raised two cafés in Male’ as part of the operation during which five illegal migrants were detained.
ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ވިޔަފާރިކޮށް، ސައްހަ ވިސާއެއް ނެތި އުޅެމުން އަންނަ ބިދޭސީންނަށް އަމާޒުކޮށް އިއްޔެ ޓާސްކް ފޯސްއިން ވަނީ މާލޭގައި ހުންނަ 02 ކެފޭއެއް ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށް، ގަވާއިދާ ޚިލާފަށް އުޅެމުންދިއަ 05 ބިދޭސީއަކު އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ ބެލުމުގެ ދަށަށް ގެނެސްފައި.@PoliceMv… pic.twitter.com/aviWslxNfj
— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) November 7, 2025
The operations fall under a broader initiative by Immigration to combat illegal migration.
Notably, Home Ministry is also conducting an operation under the name 'Kurangi', aimed at collecting biometric data of all migrants in the Maldives in a move to remedy the longstanding issue of illegal migration. 
The current administration is targeting to resolve the issue of illegal migration within the first three years of the current term.