Home Minister Ali Ihsan has said that 1,800 foreign nationals who were staying in the Maldives illegally have been deported.

Speaking at a meeting held last evening with the people of Feydhoo and Hithadhoo as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's visit to four atolls in the south, Ihsan said that the issue of illegal immigrants is a priority for President Dr. Muizzu.

"Under the direct supervision of the President, we have formed a task force and based on our work, more than 1,800 illegal immigrants in the Maldives, including those who went on their own and those we deported, have have returned to their nations," Minister Ihsan said.

Noting that President Dr. Muizzu's aim is to solve the drug problem together, he said that drugs worth more than MVR 47.5 million have been seized during the current regime, and arrangements have been made to provide treatment to many people who are drug addicts and need treatment and have not received treatment.