Maldives Immigration has revealed that over 1,000 cases have been investigated since the launch of its online reporting platform, Immigration Watch, on July 17, 2024.

Designed to address immigration violations, the platform has been instrumental in tackling the challenges posed by undocumented immigrants in the Maldives.

By December 2024, a total of 1,061 cases had been examined. Of these, 1,017 cases were registered by November, with the majority linked to illegal trade activities involving migrant labourers. Immigration officials reported 239 such cases, alongside 239 work visa violations and 65 cases involving the sale of bodies.

Other issues included 41 cases of workers evading employment, 14 tourist visa violations, and 12 instances of employee sponsor violations. Additionally, there were 12 cases of visa abuse, 11 miscellaneous offences, and 10 drug-related cases. Complaints also covered eight public health hazards, seven human trafficking cases, and seven reports of illegal foreign currency trading.

Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, highlighted the significant strides made in addressing the migrant crisis over the past year. A dedicated task force has been conducting targeted operations to bring undocumented migrant workers into compliance with immigration regulations.

Shamaan stressed that addressing undocumented immigration remains a key Government priority. Efforts are being expanded beyond Malé to other residential islands, resorts, industrial hubs, and agricultural zones. Comprehensive data collection on expatriates living across the Maldives is also underway to support these initiatives.