Eight expats detained in raids near Male’ ferry terminal, social center

Maldives Immigration detained eight irregular expatriate workers on Tuesday, in raids targeting two areas in Male’ City.

According to Immigration, the raids were conducted by the taskforce as part of the ongoing joint operation targeting irregular expatriates.

On Tuesday, the taskforce conducted raids targeting expatriates working near the Vilimale’ Ferry Terminal and the Social Center.

The agency said that eight irregular expatriates were detained during the operation.

However, the agency did not disclose any details, including their gender or nationality.

ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅޭ ބިދޭސީން ހޯދުމަށްޓަކައި ޓާސްކް ފޯސްއިން ކުރިއަށްގެންދާ އޮޕަރޭޝަންތަކުގައި، އިއްޔެ ވަނީ މާލޭގެ ސޯޝަލް ސެންޓަރ އަދި ވިލިމާލެ ފެރީ ޓަރމިނަލް ސަރަހައްދުގައި މަސައްކަތްކުރާ ބިދޭސީން ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައި. މި އޮޕަރޭޝަންގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅެމުންދިއަ 08… pic.twitter.com/DltXOWgulB

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) April 9, 2025

The crackdown on irregular migration – launched in 2023 – has seen over 6,000 expatriates deported from the Maldives.

The Maldives also been running ‘Operation Kurangi’ – a program to collect the biometric data of all expatriates in the country. On March 19, the Homeland Security Ministry announced that they have connected the biometric data of over 100,000 expatriates, including 65,000 from the greater Male’ area, since the program was launched on May 2, 2024.

The government has said that the completion of ‘Kurangi’ will provide a permanent solution to irregular migration.