24‑zone operation begins in Male' with new notices, biometrics and multi‑agency teams

The third phase of Operation Kurangi, the Home Ministry’s nationwide effort to identify and collect data on irregular immigrants working in Maldives, was launched on Saturday.

The latest phase is being carried out jointly by the Home Ministry, Maldives Police Service, Health Protection Agency, Maldives Food and Drug Authority, Economic Ministry and the Maldives Red Crescent.

According to Immigration, the operation is now active across 24 zones in Male' City. Three teams will be deployed in the larger zones, while two teams will operate in the smaller zones.

Immigration said notices issued to foreigners and sponsors will differ under the third phase, with foreign workers categorised into three groups. As part of the process, officers will collect all 10 fingerprints and updated facial‑recognition photographs of foreign workers to strengthen the biometric database.

ސައްޙަކަން ކަށަވަރު ކުރެވިފައިވާ އެކްޓިވް ވޯކްޕަރމިޓުގައި މިވަގުތު ރާއްޖޭގައި ޤާއިމުވެތިބެގެން މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުންދާ ބިދޭސީ މަސައްކަތްތެރިންގެ ތެރެއިން 98 އިންސައްތަ މީހުން ބަޔޯމެޓްރިކަލީ ކާކުކަން ދެނެގަނެވޭނެ ގޮތަށް 10 އިނގިލީގެ ނިޝާނާއި ސާފު ފޮޓޯ ވަނީ ނަގާ ނިމިފައި. (މި އަދަދު…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) May 9, 2026

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Immigration Controller General Ahmed Faseeh said the operation has been progressing “very successfully” and that the third phase will soon expand to the atolls.

In a post on X on Saturday, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said biometric data, including 10 fingerprints and clear facial photographs, has now been collected for 98 percent of foreign workers. He said the remaining irregular immigrants will be traced and deported within the next six months as part of efforts to find a permanent solution to the issue.

On May 23, Home Minister Ali Ihusaan revealed that 148,417 foreigners in Maldives had either unpaid work‑permit fees or no valid visa when Operation Kurangi was launched in May 2024. At the time, only 28 percent of the foreign population was compliant with immigration rules; that figure has since risen to 62 percent, he said.

The government has previously stated that resolving the issue of irregular immigrants is a key target for the first three years of its term.

Maldives has one of the highest proportions of foreign workers in the region. According to the 2022 Census, 132,493 foreigners live in the country, meaning one in every four people is a foreign national.