Maldives Immigration has conducted a special operation to find and detain undocumented immigrants.

On Thursday, in K. Huraa, 46 individuals without valid permits were detained. The operation ran from 0600 - 1700hrs as part of a nationwide effort to regulate residency. Similar actions are ongoing in Malé and other atolls.

On January 20, 60 expatriates moved to The Emerald Resort in Raa atoll and then to Raa Maduvvari. Authorities later located and returned all of them to the resort.

Since the current Administration took office, 5,000 undocumented migrants have been identified and repatriated. Some have been linked to criminal activities. To improve migration management, the Government is now collecting biometric data on migrant workers.