Major operation begins to shut down illegal trade, deport offenders

A nationwide operation targeting illegal businesses run by expatriates will be launched today, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

Speaking during his visit to Faafu atoll Nilandhoo, Muizzu said the operation would identify and shut down unlicensed businesses across all islands, with those involved to be deported immediately.

“The number of such businesses has increased so much that from today onwards they will be closed and those running them deported,” he said, adding that priority would be given to areas with larger populations.

According to figures from Operation Kurangi, a government programme to identify expatriates living in Maldives, 178,982 foreigners have been recorded in the past two years. President Muizzu said the total expatriate population now stands at around 200,000.

He noted that 8,609 undocumented expatriates had been deported under his administration, compared with what he described as “deportation in name only” by previous governments.

Biometric data collection is still ongoing, he added.

The President acknowledged that some Maldivians have assisted expatriates in running unlicensed businesses and urged them to stop.

He said that curbing illegal trade by foreigners would open up more opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

The deportations so far include expatriates without valid visas as well as those found guilty of theft, drug offences and prostitution.