Controller General of the Maldives Immigration Mohamed Sham'aan Waheed has stated that it is illegal to house any foreigner in the country without proper authorisation.
Maldives Immigration has made significant strides in addressing the issue of illegal foreigners, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's Pro-Maldives vision. As such, 2,069 illegal immigrants have been deported as of July 15 this year, marking an increase since November 16 last year. Weekly raids in the capital Male' City have led to the arrest of numerous illegal foreigners.
In a social media post about the ongoing operations, Controller General Sham’aan emphasised that, under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, it is an offense to harbour unauthorised foreigners. He also highlighted that obstructing the objectives of the act is punishable under Article 33.
Individuals found guilty under Article 33 of the Immigration Act face a fine of up to USD 3,200. The Controller General has the authority to withhold the individual's passport for a specified period. If a foreigner commits the offense, the penalty ranges from USD 973 to USD 3,200, and the Controller General has the power to deport them for a designated period.
The newly implemented Immigration Watch programme is being used to tackle illegal immigration. Maldives Immigration aims to find a comprehensive solution to the issue of illegal immigrants in the Maldives within the next three years.