Maldives Immigration on Sunday said it had detained 82 undocumented foreign workers in Baa Atoll.
According to the agency, all 82 illegal expatriates were rounded up during a special operation conducted in four islands of Baa Atoll from July 17 to 22.
Maldives Immigration and Police are conducting a nationwide operation to weed out undocumented foreign workers and deport them back to their home countries. The agency is also carrying out programmes for foreign workers who wish to go back to their countries voluntarily.
In the latest operation conducted in Thulhaadhoo, Eydhafushi, Dharavandhoo and Goidhoo Islands of Baa Atoll, the agency questioned 233 foreign workers and detained 82 for lacking proper documentation.
As part of the operation, the agency also conducted information sessions on establishing foreign workers registries in each island, and entered into relevant registries the details of all 233 foreign workers screened in the operation.
The Immigration said the operation was conducted after Baa Atoll Council complained of increasing illegal foreign workers in the atoll.