Maldives Immigration has detained eight expatriates found working illegally during a monitoring operation conducted in Hulhumalé Phase II.

According to Immigration, 19 expatriates were inspected under the Migration Monitoring and Compliance Programme (MMCP), with eight taken into custody for violating employment regulations.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts to identify undocumented expatriates and those engaged in illegal work across the country.

Immigration said arrangements are underway to repatriate those detained, noting that similar operations carried out over the past year have led to a significant number of arrests.