The government has expanded its nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrant workers, extending enforcement efforts beyond the capital into densely populated outer regions. Maldives Immigration said more than 6,700 foreign nationals found in violation of immigration laws have been deported under the sweeping initiative.
The agency, which regulates all matters related to migrant workers, said the campaign aims not only to resolve the issue of unlawful residency but also to protect public health, strengthen national security, and respond to foreign nationals involved in criminal activity.
First launched in Malé, the operation now targets major population centres across the atolls, where officials say the presence of undocumented migrants is most pronounced. In Addu City, one of the country's most populous localities, authorities recently detained 83 undocumented foreign nationals, now held in immigration custody. Officials said similar raids would continue throughout the year in efforts to sustain momentum.
The escalation follows widespread public concern over the visibility of undocumented foreign labour across essential sectors, including construction, tourism, and fisheries. Migrants also play a growing role in informal economic activity, such as food sales in local markets, domestic service, small-scale business operations, and the unregulated foreign exchange trade.
Officials have attributed increased urgency to a recent rise in serious criminal offences involving foreign nationals. Authorities cited incidents of drug trafficking, prostitution, and assault as emerging threats they say the campaign is designed to contain.
Government officials maintain that the current operation represents the most comprehensive approach yet undertaken by an administration to address the long-standing issue. Working in coordination with Maldives Immigration and other state agencies, they say they are seeing tangible results. The strategy, they said, includes establishing a formal framework for managing foreign national affairs to support more effective identification and enforcement.