Maldives Immigration detained 16 unregistered migrant workers during a series of inspections targeting several cafés in Hulhumalé on September 24th and 25th. According to Immigration, the workers initially entered the Maldives on valid visas but later became undocumented due to expired visas or incomplete documentation.

The raids were conducted in coordination with other relevant authorities, and seven cafés were thoroughly inspected. Officials stated that three of these cafés, which were found operating without the required legal permits, were closed down by the Health Protection Agency.

Since November 2023, Maldives Immigration has deported more than 4,054 undocumented migrant workers as part of their efforts to regulate the status of migrant workers and ensure compliance with local regulations. However, the recent crackdown in the capital region has led to concerns about unregistered workers fleeing to other islands to avoid detection.

Maldives Immigration announced that it is preparing to expand these operations to other islands and is currently collecting information on undocumented workers residing outside the capital region. The ongoing effort aims to address the issue of workers who remain in the country without valid documents, ensuring that all employment and residency regulations are followed.