Maldives Immigration has begun monitoring public areas frequented by foreign nationals under efforts to address behaviors that could harm public interest.
Immigration stated that recent observations have shown that some foreign nationals gathering in public areas have been engaging in activities detrimental to the community. Therefore, officers from the Immigration Law Enforcement and Compliance Department are actively monitoring public areas to prevent such incidents. Immigration noted that if any undocumented migrants are identified during these patrols, the task force will take the necessary action against them.
Recently, a physical altercation among migrant workers occurred at the Artificial Beach in Male’, where a local individual filming the incident was also attacked. An Indian national who created unrest at the scene was detained and deported. In reference to the incident, Immigration has emphasised that no second chances will be granted to any foreign national who endangers public safety.
The government has been intensifying efforts to resolve the long-standing issue of undocumented migrant workers in the Maldives. As part of this initiative, a special operation titled Operation Kurangi is being conducted across the Maldives. The biometric data of over 25,000 migrant workers gave been collected by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology as part of this operation.