Immigration arrests 10 foreigners after searching nine cafes in Male' City

Ten foreigners were arrested in Male' City on Tuesday in a joint raid targeting individuals working in the Maldives illegally, according to Maldives Immigration.

The operation, carried out this morning, involved searches at nine cafe's across the capital. Immigration said the arrests were made as part of ongoing efforts to address the long-standing issue of undocumented expatriates working in commercial establishments.

The task force, comprising Immigration, Police, the Homeland Security Ministry, and the Economic Ministry, has been conducting a series of coordinated enforcement operations in recent weeks. Twenty-seven irregular immigrants were arrested during a similar raid on the night of July 5.

ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅޭ ބިދޭސީންގެ މައްސަލައަށް ހައްލެއް ހޯދުމަށް ކުރަމުންދާ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން ޓާސްކް ފޯސް އިން ވަނީ މިއަދު ހެނދުނު ރެއިޑު އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ކުރިއަށް ގެންގޮސްފައި. މި ރެއިޑުގައި މާލޭގެ 09 ކެފޭއެއް ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށް، ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅެމުންދިއަ 10 ބިދޭސީން ވަނީ… pic.twitter.com/WXNaRfHHL2

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) July 14, 2026

The crackdown is part of the third phase of Operation Kurangi, launched by the Homeland Security Ministry on May 9 to identify and collect information on foreigners working without proper documentation in the Male' region.

Last May, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the government had deported more than 12,000 irregular immigrants since taking office. He also noted that biometrics have been collected from 206,400 individuals, while information remains unavailable for roughly one percent of foreigners.