Maldives authorities crack down on illegal workers and black market currency

Maldivian authorities are intensifying operations to crack down on illegal foreign workers and unauthorized currency exchanges. In a recent raid targeting five cafes, the Immigration Task Force inspected the documents of 14 foreign nationals, resulting in the detention of two individuals for regulatory violations.

Simultaneously, the Maldives Police Service has received 65 reports via a dedicated hotline regarding illegal foreign exchange transactions. These reports include information on 27 foreign nationals, 18 businesses, four large-scale illegal currency traders, and 16 online platforms. One foreign national has already been taken into custody by Immigration following these reports.

These enforcement actions align with government efforts to control the black market. Home Minister Ali Ihusan previously noted that seven unauthorized entities had moved approximately $76 million through the black market over a nine-month period. Authorities continue to coordinate investigations into these financial and immigration breaches.