A large number of expatriates living illegally have been taken into Immigration custody from a house in Male' that was conducting a large-scale food business.

In a video post on X today, Maldives Immigration said that the illegal expatriates were apprehended in an operation conducted on Wednesday night following a report to "Immigration Watch".

Immigration said it was reported that frozen fish, vegetables, and other food items were always seen being supplied from "M. Hithilaage 2". It was also reported that a large number of gas cylinders were being taken to the building. The reports also mentioned people leaving the building to deliver a large number of lunch parcels and delivery motorcycles parked near the building.

Immigration said that the house was arranged to accommodate a large number of expatriates in addition to cooking in large quantities. They said that during the operation conducted by the Taskforce, they checked the documents of 77 expatriates living in the old four-story building with makeshift decks.

Of these expatriates, 32 were taken into Immigration custody, including those working illegally without valid visas and those who had absconded from their employers, the authority said.