More expatriates have been detained from stalls in the marketplace during the special raid operations being initiated across Male' City to identify undocumented immigrants working in the city.
More expatriates have been detained from stalls in the marketplace during the special raid operations being initiated across Male' City to identify undocumented immigrants.
The operation which was begun at a wide-scale on June 19 had identified several illegal immigrants working in the city and detained them into Immigration custody.
Authorities had targeted the local market near Villa Mart on Majeedhee Magu and the market near the PSM office on Ameenee Magu during the operation and arrested all expats stationed at the stalls, ensuing a complete shut down of the markets due to a lack of locals to man the stalls.
However, following reports by Mihaaru News last night on both the markets resuming operations a day later with expats still running the stalls, Immigration had initiated another raid in collaboration with the police last night and arrested expatriates manning the stalls. Reports indicate that this recent raid had only caught four expatriates.
Although only four were detained, local medias who observed the market scene yesterday morning report that there were more than four expatriates operating the stalls. An onlooker had further shared that most expatriates had missed the operation's radar after they left their posts following intel received on a incoming raid.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan declared last night that the neglected implementation of the country's laws has come to an end with this operation to identify undocumented immigrants.
These raid operations targeting illegal business activities conducted by expatriates had observed 50 person taken into Immigration custody from markets in Male' City alone. The expats will remain in custody until their deportation is arranged accordingly, said Immigration.
These operations had also observed 8 expats arrested from takeaway coffee shops operated in Hulhumale' Phase 1 on Friday night. Two more expats who were exchanging dollars on the black market were also arrested last week.
Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan had earlier affirmed that all undocumented expatriates residing in the country will be deported.
According to the Business Registration Act (Act no. 18/2014) of Maldives, stationing expatriates as cashiers is prohibited. However, this practice continues to be observed in countless businesses, with it now having become habitual in the country over the years.
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