Maldives Immigration authorities have apprehended an undocumented migrant worker for preparing food in violation of health and safety standards.

Acting on a tip-off, a task force raided a residence in Henveiru, Malé, last night, discovering a large quantity of food products intended for commercial distribution. The operation revealed that the migrant worker was preparing local food items without adhering to required norms, posing a potential public health risk.

The detained worker is among thousands of undocumented migrants in the Maldives; a persistent challenge the Government is actively addressing.

Since the launch of the Immigration Watch platform in July, 1,017 cases have been reported, underscoring the scale of the issue. Most cases involved illegal trade by migrant workers, with 239 related to work visa violations and 65 involving human trafficking.

In response, authorities have intensified operations across Malé and other regions, including targeted raids on eateries that pose public safety risks. So far, over 5,000 undocumented migrants have been deported.

To strengthen these efforts, the Government is developing a unified expatriate database to improve information management and address challenges faced by migrant workers within three years.