The 39 detainees include nationals from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and one from Nigeria.
Maldives Immigration has detained 39 individuals from Kaafu atoll Guraidhoo in its first operation outside the capital aimed at locating and apprehending expatriates residing and conducting business illegally in Maldives.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, sought to address the issue of expatriates living in violation of the law in the country.
Twenty immigration officers, nine police officers, and the Guraidhoo Council collaborated during the operation to identify expatriates violating their permits by engaging in small and medium enterprises illegally and to enforce action under the Immigration Act.
Immigration Controller General Mohamed Shamaan Waheed and Deputy Controller Ahmed Ashfaan were present during the operation.
Shamaan said that the expansion of these operations into the islands comes in response to public complaints regarding expatriates moving to evade authorities.
During the operation, 42 locations were searched, and 106 expatriates were checked. Eleven expatriates with incomplete visas received written notice to report to Immigration, and five Maldivians who had employed expatriates unlawfully were issued written warnings.
The 39 detainees include nationals from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, and one from Nigeria.
Maldives Immigration has so far detained and deported thousands of individuals in similar operations.