The raid on undocumented workers led by former Controller General of Immigration Shamaan Waheed, had detained workers residing in the country lawfully, said Maldives Police Service on Tuesday.

In a press conference, Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Azmath Abdulla said the agency received information about the case on March 20, which prompted an investigation the same day.

He said the raid operation took place on March 12, targeting expatriates liivng in a house in Maafannu.

According to Azmath, the expatriates detained had legal documentation. He further detailed that money found from one of the foreign workers was taken by the person to the Immigration office on M. Star Cloud the following night.

The individual was then released after an invalid letter was issued and the matter was designated as urgent on Shamaan's instructions, police said.

“Shortly after receiving this letter, the then Controller General Shamaan endorsed the release of the foreigner as an urgent matter, and notified as such to relevant authorities," Azmath said.

"And when the phone number listed on the sponsors letter as the person who would attend to receive the foreign individual was contacted, the foreign individual was received by Saheshan [the nephew of Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the three Immigration officers who took part in the raid]," police also said.

The release letter in question was not submitted by the foreign individual's sponsor, but one that was created without the knowledge of the sponsor, Azmath also detailed.

He also explained that the raid operation was carried out without completing the required documents.

“The raid operation was not carried out by personnel working in the task force constituted by the Risk Management System or the Enforcement and Compliance which are authorised to carry out such operations. The employees were not authorised to carry out such an operation either," he said.

According to police, the raid was conducted by Ibrahim Ahmed, Ahmed Lassan and Mohamed Alsan Ismail, all who were arrested along with Shamman. According to the agency, these employees worked in the planning and media section of the Controller General's Bureau or directly in the bureau itself.

So far, 12 people have been arrested in the case, including five Immigration staff and one foreigner. The case has now been forwarded for prosecution.