Two immigration officials have been barred from leaving the country, while former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, has been arrested along with three other officers as investigations continue into allegations of misconduct.

Authorities have accused Shamaan and the officers of engaging in unlawful activities during immigration operations. Reports indicate that certain employees, outside the usual task force and risk management sections responsible for overseeing foreign workers, conducted a raid on a residence occupied by migrant labourers. 

During the operation, a significant amount of cash was confiscated. Subsequently, a foreign national who had been taken to an immigration detention facility with MVR 530,000 in possession was later released following direct orders from Shamaan.

Following the arrests, the Maldives Police Service confirmed that a mobile phone belonging to a family member of Shamaan has been seized in accordance with a court order.

Further investigations have revealed that after the foreign national’s release, immigration officers confronted the individual on the road and demanded a large sum of money. Law enforcement later recovered around MVR 500,000 at Shamaan’s residence, during a police raid.

The Criminal Court has remanded Shamaan in judicial custody for 15 days. Among the other three arrested officers, two have been detained for 10 days, while one will remain in custody for three days.