A group of foreigners who were extensively involved in a prostitution network in the Maldives has been arrested.

This was revealed by the Maldives Immigration department on Wednesday.

The immigration department collaborated with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to conduct special inspections in August and September to locate foreigners involved in widespread prostitution in the Maldives.

The department revealed that five foreign women involved in the prostitution ring as well as a foreign man who was working as their agent, were taken into custody.

Following investigations, three of the foreigners have since been deported and banned from re-entering the Maldives. They are; Glaiza Arenas Santos, 39 who was deported on August 29, Sultana Sultanova, 36 who was deported on September 9 and Dilafruz Bobonorova, 37 who was deported on September 24.

The expatriates that are yet to be deported include a 28-year-old woman, 31-year-old MD Johirul Islam Sahed and 24-year-old MST Mithila Islam.

Immigration is currently in the process of deporting the remaining three expatriates.

As part of ongoing efforts to address issues related to migrants residing illegally in the Maldives and being involved in illegal businesses, the immigration department continues to conduct special inspections in the congested capital, Malé City.

This includes deporting foreigners illegally conducting business in the Maldives, issuing notices to foreigners with incomplete visas, and issuing written warnings to Maldivians who illegally employ them.

The immigration department went on to note that if the locals do not comply with the written warnings they are issued, legal action will be taken against these parties as mandated under the law.