Maldivian authorities have arrested three expatriates under suspicion of human trafficking.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that they had raided a house in Mahchangoalhi-ward of capital city Malé after a tip-off, under a court order on the 20th of May.

While police arrested the Bangladeshi men suspected to be involved in human trafficking, the woman involved in the case is also Bangladeshi.

Police investigations thus far reveal that the woman’s "spouse" was the foreigner who was arrested in Maldives last week while attempting to flee the country, with the woman’s passport. Maldives Immigration revealed that the he had initially traveled to the Maldives with the woman, with the intention of holidaying in the country, on 15 May. He had however attempted to flee without his wife, days later.

While the suspect is under police custody, police also found bruises and marks on her body suspected to have been inflicted by her husband.

Authorities have since given the woman sanctuary, having transferred her into a safe house after having kept her under police security for a while.

RaajjeMV understands that the police have taken on a serious investigation into the human trafficking case.

Criminal Court has since remanded the woman’s spouse by seven days and the other three suspects by 15 days.

Immigration had recently launched a website to help victims of human trafficking as part of their work to combat the issue. It is currently investigating 67 companies that are suspected of committing the crime. Thus far, the department has concluded investigations into 24 companies and their cases have been forwarded to MPS.