Authorities are raiding establishments believed to be offering prostitution services in the capital of Maldives.
In a special raid last night, Maldives Police Service arrested three Thai women and a 55-year-old local man from a spa used as a front for prostitution.
Police said the raid was initiated based on information received, and was carried out under a court order.
Additional details reveal that two of the Thai women arrested are aged 30, while the third woman is 28-years old.
Immigration also announced that two Vietnamese women were also detained for prostitution earlier this week. Although Police has not yet disclosed further details about the special raid operations in Malé which are prompted by intelligence on widespread prostitution in the city, the agency released photos of the large sum of money seized from the two Vietnamese women.
Many believe that the spas which claim to provide professional massage services in the country are actually in the prostitution business. Some expatriate women who offer these services even advertise themselves on social media with their mobile numbers as well.
Although authorities occasionally conduct raids to stop such establishments, not all are closed down. These spas are often run entirely by foreign women, including collecting payments.