In a development under the Government's ongoing efforts to combat illegal immigration, the Joint Task Force on Illegal Immigrants conducted a targeted operation on January 14, in the Male' area, resulting in the arrest of a foreign national working without a valid visa.

The operation was part of Operation Kurangi, a comprehensive initiative launched in May 2024 by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, in collaboration with Maldives Immigration and the Maldives Police Service. The primary objective of Operation Kurangi is to identify and regularise undocumented immigrants residing in the Maldives.

During the raid, authorities apprehended the individual employed in a local establishment without the necessary documentation.

Since the launch of Operation Kurangi, significant progress has been made in addressing illegal immigration. As of December 2024, over 18,000 foreign nationals have had their biometric data collected, facilitating the identification and regularisation of undocumented immigrants.

The Task Force continues to conduct operations across the country. Authorities have emphasised the importance of public cooperation in reporting illegal immigration activities. The Immigration Watch portal remains an essential tool for citizens to report suspected undocumented individuals and other immigration-related violations.