Maldives Immigration Detains 13 Foreign Nationals in Male' During Visa Compliance Raids

In a coordinated raid on November 6, Maldives immigration officials detained 13 foreign nationals suspected of residing illegally in the country. The operation took place at two separate locations in Male' City where foreign nationals were found living without valid documentation, according to an official statement on X (formerly Twitter) by Maldives Immigration.

The recent raid is part of an ongoing nationwide initiative to address illegal immigration and enforce visa compliance. As part of the crackdown, the government is enabling the public to report suspected violations through a 24-hour hotline. Immigration authorities have also implemented a digital platform where citizens can submit information and photographs related to potential violations.

The government has outlined a three-year plan to resolve the country's migrant crisis by consolidating information on expatriates into a single, comprehensive database. Authorities have expressed their intent to extend these operations to every island in the Maldives within the coming year.