23 expats detained in raid on Hulhumale’ market

Maldivian authorities detained 23 expatriates on Monday, in a raid the Rashu Market in Hulhumale’ Phase I.

According to Maldives Immigration Service, the raid was conducted to identify expatriate engaged in illegal business activities at the market.

Immigration detained 23 expatriates from 15 different stalls at the market. They included 15 men and eight women.

ހުޅުމާލެ ފޭސް 01 ގައި ހުންނަ "ރަށު މާރުކޭޓު" ގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ވިޔަފާރިކޮށް މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުންދާ މީހުން ބެލުމަށް އިއްޔެ ވަނީ ހާއްސަ ރެއިޑު އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ހިންގާފައި. އެގޮތުން، މި މާރުކޭޓުގެ 15 ގޮޅިއެއްގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ވިޔަފާރިކޮށް މަސައްކަތްކުރަމުން ދިއަ 23 ބިދޭސީން… pic.twitter.com/QGSpFxnW7T

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) October 22, 2024

The agency said that 30 Immigration officers and 24 police officers were involved in the raid, along with officials from the Heath Protection Agency and the Economic Ministry.

Immigration and the police have been conducting raids in a special joint operation targeting businesses run by irregular expatriates.

Over 4,000 individuals have been deported as part of the crackdown.