Illegal expats involved in extensive foreign exchange, arrested

Two foreigners have been arrested for involvement in an extensive foreign exchange network.

The Maldives Immigration revealed this in a post on social media platform ‘X’ last week.

As such, the immigration department revealed that they conducted a special raid operation near the USD ATM in the capital, Malé City on July 3.

As part of the operation, two undocumented migrants were arrested for further investigation.

They are accused of being extensively involved in foreign exchange activities.

The immigration department revealed that the operation was conducted in partnership with the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

According to the department, Babu Miah and Mohammad Mokchandali, two Bangladeshi nationals were taken into police custody on July 3.

Further, six suspects who were arrested on 9 March 2024 were recently deported. They were all Bangladeshi nationals.

A special operation was also carried out in collaboration with the police institution, led by immigration authorities to seek out undocumented migrant workers.

The operation is part of efforts to address the issue of undocumented migrant workers according to immigration.

During the operation, four places operating as markets in the Greater Malé Region were raided and a total of 83 migrants were taken into police custody where statements were recorded.

These included foreigners who do not have valid visas, those who are working in a place other than where they have obtained permission to work, and those who do business on their own outside the work where a permit has been issued.

Immigration has since commenced the process of deporting the migrant workers who have been arrested as part of the raid, in collaboration with relevant authorities.

As part of these efforts, more than 1,800 migrant workers residing illegally in the Maldives have been deported so far.