Maldivian authorities are cracking down on expatriates who are found to be in violation of the country's laws. As such, three were detained in a raid today for preparing food products sold in shops under unhygienic conditions.
Maldives Immigration has detained three expatriates who were discovered to have been preparing food in a run-down building in extremely unhygienic conditions.
The agency said that the three individuals were taken into custody in a raid carried out this morning, following a tip off received via the "Immigration Watch" portal, which allows members of the public to lodge complaints against expatriates violating the law.
Immigration revealed that the complaint detailed the condition of the building to be extremely poor and that the food prepared there was being sold commercially.
Upon inspection, Maldives Immigration discovered many food products commonly found in shops, the agency said. The matter has now been brought to the attention of other relevant authorities as well, they said.
Images published from the raid by Maldives Immigration show local snacks such as 'rihaakuru gulha', 'kudhi gulha', 'thelulifaiy', sliced areca nuts, and ground and sweetened areca nut packets to have fungus growing inside. While the place looks disorganised, materials used for preparing and packing the food also looked unhygienic.
Immigration recently raided similar houses and apartments within the Malé area, and detained several other expatriates who were also preparing food products like this.
According to Maldives Immigration, over 2,000 expatriates were taken into custody and detained during the past seven months, for violating the country's immigrations regulations. Foreign residents who are detained in such circumstances will not be given the opportunity to legalise their status in the country, the agency said.
Authorities have recently been cracking down on undocumented expatriates and those who are involved in illegal activities in the country including running small businesses, manning stalls at the local produce markets, and being involved in spas which are operated as fronts for prostitution.
Immigration said such establishments will be inspected and made to fall in line with the country's laws and regulations. This operation will be concluded only after these results are achieved, they say.
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