Two expatriates who have been working to dispose of waste against the law have been arrested yesterday.

Police stated today that two Bangladeshi men who have been working on their own to take waste from various parts of Hulhumale' and dispose of it have been brought under their care.

The two who were arrested are a masonry staff with a visa from Gold King Private Limited known as Emdee Monir, and a seamster with a visa from AU Fehun known as Emdee Khabib Ulah, as was said by the police.

According to the police, the two suspects were apprehended along with the pickup they use to transport waste.

The police said that they were in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Waste Management Act, the Maldives Immigration Act, Employment Act by working on their own to take and dispose of the waste in Hulhumale'.

As per the police, they have been handed over to Immigration so that action can be taken against them under the Maldives Immigration Act.

As WAMCO began waste management efforts in the Male' region in 2016, people working on their own to dispose of the waste has been prohibited under the Waste Management Act. Prior to this, only expatriates were working to dispose of waste in Male'.

Waste disposal services can only be conducted under a commercial basis with a special license. The act states that those who are in violation of this regulation will be penalized between MVR 5,000 and MVR 50,000.