Immigration Detains 107 Illegal Expatriates in Thoddoo

Maldives Immigration has detained 107 foreign nationals following a targeted operation in Alifu Alifu Thoddoo amid complaints about undocumented foreign workers residing on the island.

According to Maldives Immigration, a special task force operation was launched in Thoddoo yesterday following a surge in public complaints regarding the growing number of undocumented foreign workers residing on the island.

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Maldives Immigration officials screened 507 foreign nationals during a ten-hour sweep yesterday, which ran from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

To curb the influx of undocumented migrants, Maldives Immigration regularly conducts targeted operations across the country. During these sweeps, officers inspect various workplaces, taking scores of foreign workers into custody, many of whom are subsequently deported.

The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology stated that last July, a total of 12,552 undocumented migrants were repatriated between 17 November 2023 and 13 June 2026.

Among those sent back were individuals formally deported, as well as others repatriated through alternative channels. Among those deported were foreign nationals engaged in illegal business ventures and individuals lacking valid documentation.

Under the government’s mass legalisation initiative, undocumented foreign workers across the Maldives, including individuals lacking valid permits, overstayers with expired visas, and workers without official identification, were given the chance to regularise their status and stay legally.

Speaking recently at a People’s National Congress (PNC) event, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan said that through field operations and integrated technological tools, authorities successfully raised biometric coverage to 95 per cent. Official records initially listed nearly 295,700 foreign nationals with valid stay permits. However, only 22,700 had verified biometric data on file when the government stepped in to address the issue.

ގަވާއިދާ ޚިލާފަށް އުޅޭ ބިދޭސީންގެ މައްސަލަ ބޮޑުކަމަށް، އާންމުންގެ ގިނަ ޝަކުވާތަކެއް ލިބެމުންދާ އއ. ތޮއްޑޫއަށް އަމާޒުކޮށްގެން ޓާސްކްފޯސްއިން މިއަދު ވަނީ ހާއްސަ އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ހިންގާފައި.

ހެނދުނު 6:00 އިން ހަވީރު 4:00 އަށް ހިންގި މި އޮޕަރޭޝަނުގައި ޖުމްލަ 507 ބިދޭސީއަކު ބަލައި… pic.twitter.com/TOdslCGhNY— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) September 19, 2026