President: 96 illegal massage parlors shut down in 22 days

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Wednesday, revealed that 96 massage parlors where illegal activities are being conducted have been shut down within 22 days.

Amidst mounting complaints, a special operation to shut down massage parlors in Male’, which have been observed as hotspots for illegal activities, was launched on December 9^th.

President Muizzu, via a post on X, said 96 massage parlors have been shut down to date under the operation targeting establishments engaged in sacrilegious activities rather than their permitted business operations.

ހުއްދަ ނަގާފައިވާ ވިޔަފާރީގެ ބަދަލުގައި ފާޙިޝް ޢަމަލުތައް އެ ވިޔަފާރީގެ ނަން ބޭނުން ކޮށްގެން ހިންގަމުންދާ މަސާޖު ޕާލާތައް ބަންދު ކުރުމަށް 9 ޑިސެންބަރު 2025 ގައި ފެށި އޮޕަރޭޝަން ގެ ދަށުން މިއަދާ ހަމަޔަށް 96 މަސާޖު ޕާލާ ވަނީ ބަންދުކުރެވިފައި.

މިފަދަ ތަންތަން ހިނގަމުންދަނީ މިފަދަ…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) December 31, 2025

He also expressed regret that such venues continued to attract customers.

The President stressed that state of the society can only be improved if the intentions, actions and opinions of everyone are united in such matters.

Massage parlors have been used in the Maldives as a front for prostitution for years. Such establishments have been shut down on many previous occasions in raids that have also seen arrests.

Notably, majority of individuals arrested in such cases are migrants, often undocumented.