Maldives Immigration has once again detained expatriates who were using a severely unsanitary location for illegal food preparations and packaging.
Maldives Immigration has once again detained expatriates illegally working in severely unsanitary premises unfit for food preparation and packaging.
The expatriates were detained on Monday during an inspection of Maafannu Three Moon in Male' City, following intelligence received via 'Immigration Watch,' an online portal launched as part of an ongoing special operation to identify undocumented expatriates in the Maldives.
Immigration said that ten expatriates involved in the illegal work were arrested and taken into Immigration custody during the inspection of the premises.
The agency reported that the food items prepared at the location included Theluli Fai (a combination of spices with Moringa leaves), Masmirus (chili paste with fried fish), dried chilies, dried fish, and a variety of other traditional snacks and sides commonly available in stores.
Photos disclosed by immigration reveals a variety of food items packaged under the label 'Maldives Super Quality' including Theluli Fai, Fuh Gulha (tuna and coconut dumplings), Rihaakuru (fish paste) and other fried foods such as chips and Kulhi Kaajaa (deep fried seasoned dough).
The items were prepared in a small kitchen made of tin, equipped with large pots. Photos show a sarong being used to cover food items ready for frying instead of proper domes, while large buckets were used to collect and store the fried goods.
On the same day, Immigration also inspected an expatriate accommodation unit, Maafannu Moonlight, and detained sixteen additional expatriates who were residing illegally in the Maldives.
The first floor of the house was used as a food preparation base as well as cafe' for expats while the second floor was leased to more expatriates.
Immigration has recently conducted raids on a series of flats and homes used by expatriates to prepare food items in unsanitary conditions, resulting in several arrests.
Over the past seven months, more than 2,000 expatriates have been deported, with an additional 150 expatriates involved in illegal businesses detained in recent operations. Ongoing efforts to address the issue of undocumented expatriates and those working illegally have also uncovered the increasing use of severely unsanitary locations as food preparation bases.
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