Immigration detains 23 expats from Hulhumalé 'Rashu Market'

Maldives Immigration has detained 23 expatriates found to have been running illegal businesses inside Hulhumalé 'Rashu Market', developed near the ward's ferry terminal.

The agency said today that the operation was carried out yesterday, in which 15 stalls were searched. A total of 15 men and eight women were apprehended from the stalls, Immigration also said.

They also detailed that the operation was carried out in collaboration with Maldives Police Service, Health Protection Agency (HPA), as well as the Economic Ministry, where 30 Immigration officers and 24 police officers actively participated.

Immigration has been running similar operations to arrest and deport expatriates living in the country in violation of Immigration laws. Since 17th November last year, over 4,000 expatriates have been deported from the country as part of these operations. Among those include individuals operating spas as prostitution fronts and expats running businesses and producing food items for sale illegally.