Maldives Immigration has conducted a major operation in the Local Market area, which has a large number of expatriates, and detained 23 expatriates who were staying illegally.

Immigration stated that the operation, which was carried out from early morning until noon today in the Local Market area, included inspections of vessels docked in the area and those arriving and departing.

They reported that a total of 148 expatriates were checked, resulting in the detention of 22 foreign men and one foreign woman who were found to be staying illegally. These individuals have been taken into Immigration custody.

Home Minister Ali Ihsan stated last month that about 5,000 expatriates who were staying illegally in the Maldives have been deported over the past year.