340 expatriates deported in 25 days: President

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced last night that 340 expatriates have been deported up till now under the operation to catch foreigners who have been conducting business in Maldives illegally.

The President had told residents of Nilandhoo last Saturday of the situation regarding expatriates working in Maldives during his Faafu Atoll tour. The President stated that the amount of expatriates had grown quite a bit. With that, the amount of expatriates conducting business illegally had grown as well, said the President.

President Muizzu went on to say that an operation to find the individuals who were conducting said businesses and deport them would begin from Monday onward which it did.

The President had revealed some statistics to residents of Th. Guraidhoo regarding the operation during his visit there.

President Muizzu stated that up till last night, 475 businesses have been evaluated and approved, with the information of 955 expatriates who work at said businesses being taken. The President went on to say that within that time, 108 expatriates had been caught, with deportation efforts currently underway.

He also stated that within the last five days, 108 expatriates have been caught with deportation efforts underway as well.

As per the statistics revealed by the President, from 1st September to 25th September, 110 foreigners have been deported. The President also said that as procedures were underway, 230 individuals had requested to be sent back, with them being deported as well.

President Muizzu highlighted the fact that no solution had been found to the expatriate issue even when it was worsening year after year. The President went on to say that expatriates are conducting business in Male' and other places without fear nor hesitation. He also added that many smaller businesses are affected by this.

"Maldivian businesses are disappearing, especially the smaller ones and the like," said the President.

"We don't want expatriates who had entered the country illegally through various means in the past to enter the Maldivian workforce and illegally destroy the economy."

President Muizzu stated last Sunday night that Maldives currently has more than 178,000 foreign workers, according to Operation Kurangi. The operation collected information on foreign workers such as their names and where they're from.

"This is a very large figure. Now we know that Maldives has around 200,000 foreigners living here. We weren't aware of it all this while," said the President.

The Ministry of Homeland Security is also collecting biometric data from expatriate workers in Maldives. The ministry previously stated that, once the biometric process is complete, a programme will be launched to regularize those wishing to work legally in Maldives.