Two expatriates have been detained by Maldives Immigration following an operation conducted to identify undocumented foreign nationals in Malé City.

Immigration authorities said the operation was carried out on 5 March, during which officers searched four locations in the capital as part of ongoing enforcement activities. The two individuals were found to be working without valid documentation and were subsequently taken into Immigration custody for further action.

According to Maldives Immigration, the operation was conducted under the National Taskforce on combating illegal expatriate operations and business, which was established to identify undocumented expatriates and illegal business activities in the Maldives.

Authorities said the task force is continuing efforts to locate expatriates residing or working in the country without valid visas, with particular focus on businesses suspected of employing undocumented workers, including food-related establishments.

The enforcement operations are being carried out in collaboration with Maldives Immigration, Maldives Police Service and the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, in efforts to regulate expatriate employment and address illegal operations in the Maldives.