Authorities deport Norwegian with expired tourist visa

Authorities on Thursday deported a Norwegian national out on fishing.

Maldives Immigration, said on X, that the tourist visited the Maldives on December 20, last year. Despite expiry of his tourist visa, the tourist had remained back in the country and continued to live and fish on a vessel.

The Norwegian national was brought under Immigration custody on July 25th with assistance from the Maldives Police Service.

Illegal immigration and expatriates owning businesses in the Maldives illegally are two of the most serious concerns the current administration is actively tackling.

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology earlier launched 'Operation Kurangi', a nationwide initiative to collect biometric data of expatriates in order to help identify them.

Additionally, Immigration has launched a crackdown with support from relevant law enforcement authorities to detain and deport illegal immigrants and expats running businesses illegally.