Over 250 undocumented expatriates taken into custody; deportation process underway!
Under the third phase of "Operation Kurangi," authorities have taken 254 undocumented expatriates into custody following inspections across 26 zones in Malé. During the joint operation conducted by Maldives Immigration and the Police, official notices were issued to 44 Maldivians for employing individuals without valid visas, and efforts are currently underway to deport the detained foreign nationals.
Immigration authorities are currently collecting biometric data from expatriates. During an operation conducted on Sunday, more than 250 foreign nationals with irregular visa status were taken into immigration custody. | Maldives Immigration
More than 250 undocumented expatriates have been taken into custody by Maldives Immigration.
The third phase of "Operation Kurangi" was launched on Sunday.
Maldives Immigration stated that during a special large-scale operation conducted in groups on Sunday between 16:00 and 18:00, officials inspected 639 locations and screened 1,344 expatriates. As a result, 254 individuals with invalid visas were taken into custody.
Furthermore, Maldives Immigration stated that notices have been issued to 44 Maldivians for employing undocumented expatriates. The authority further warned that legal action will be taken under the Immigration Act against those who fail to comply with the directives issued in the notices.
Immigration stated that the primary objective of this operation is to identify expatriates who have failed to provide their biometric data, despite being given repeated opportunities to regularize their status under "Operation Kurangi."
Immigration authorities stated that individuals identified during these operations will be taken into custody and deported from the Maldives at the earliest possible opportunity.
More than 200 immigration officers and 100 police officers participated in the operation, which was conducted across 26 designated zones in Malé.
