On Sunday, December 2, 2024, Maldives Immigration detained 14 expatriates during an ongoing operation targeting irregular expatriates living in overcrowded and unsafe accommodation blocks in Hulhumale’. This operation is part of the broader efforts to address the issue of illegal migration and unsafe living conditions for expatriates in the Maldives.

The raids were conducted in two accommodation blocks, with a total of 14 individuals detained, including nine from one block and five from the other, among whom were three women. Maldives Immigration has emphasized its commitment to cracking down on irregular expatriates, particularly those living in unsafe conditions that could pose a risk to public safety.

The government has previously warned landowners about the consequences of renting such unsafe accommodations to irregular migrants. This raid follows a larger series of operations targeting businesses run by irregular expatriates, as part of the government's campaign to combat illegal migration. As a result, more than 5,000 individuals have been deported in recent months.

Additionally, the Maldives government is running ‘Operation Kurangi,’ an initiative aimed at collecting biometric data from all expatriates in the country. The operation has been expanded to 138 islands, and so far, the biometric data of over 10,000 expatriates has been recorded.

The government has stated that it intends to resolve the longstanding issue of illegal migration within the next three years, working toward better regulation and oversight of expatriate communities in the Maldives.