Action Will Be Taken Against Illegal Foreign Businesses: Ihusaan

Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusaan has said that a special program will be launched to check and take action against illegal businesses run by foreigners in the country.

Speaking on a VTV program, Ihusaan said the Home Ministry is preparing to launch programs to prevent small businesses from suffering due to poor monitoring of foreign businesses in the Maldives.

The Minister said that a program of inspections will be launched soon in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to find and take action against those who are running businesses that cannot be run by foreigners under the laws and regulations made in Maldives. The Minister said that immediate action will be taken against illegal foreign businesses found during the inspection.

President Dr. Muizzu has attached great importance to the regulation of foreign businesses and ensuring that they do not harm local small businesses. The President has given the government a year to prepare a solution to the issue of illegal foreign businesses, Ihusaan said.

A program to identify all foreigners living in the country will be launched. The fingerprints of foreigners living in all islands of the country will be taken and the information will be entered into the system, he said.

The problem of illegal immigrants is one that previous governments have failed to address. There is a growing number of illegal immigrants in the country who have committed various criminal offenses. Police have already revealed that foreigners are widely involved in drug cases, gang crimes, extortion, fighting, sexual offenses and prostitution.