Operation Hamamagu, the country’s most significant raid campaign this year, officially commenced today in Addu City with Controller General of Immigration, (Retd.) Ahmed Faseeh, personally taking part alongside task force members in the field.
އައްޑޫ ސިޓީއަށް ހާއްސަކޮށްގެން ކުރިއަށްގެންދާ މި އަހަރުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު އެއް ރެއިޑް، “އޮޕަރޭޝަން ހަމަމަގު” މިއަދު (25 ޖޫން 2025) ފަށައިގެން ކުރިއަށް ދަނީ. މިއީ ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅޭ ބިދޭސީންގެ މައްސަލަތައް ހައްލުކުރުމަށްޓަކައި ސަރުކާރުން ކުރަމުންދާ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން، ރާއްޖޭގެ… pic.twitter.com/7lqCyLAbv4
— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) June 25, 2025
The 35-member unit—comprising officers from the Enforcement and Compliance Division, Addu Immigration Office, Addu City Police, and Addu City Council—launched coordinated inspections from early morning. Their mission is clear: locate undocumented expatriates, detain them, and transfer them to Malé’s Immigration Detention Center for deportation. Simultaneously, employers found breaching immigration regulations by employing illegal workers will receive formal notices under the Immigration Act.
Maldives Immigration’s statement emphasizes that Addu City is a key focus due to its rapid population growth and rising number of irregular migrants. The operation targets foreign nationals working beyond their permitted scope, especially those engaged in small and medium-sized businesses, aiming to ensure swift compliance with legal standards.
This initiative forms part of a broader nationwide enforcement drive aimed at deterring unauthorized employment. Authorities report that comparable operations in other regions have resulted in thousands of deportations and biometric screenings. Continual raids and workplace inspections remain central to this strategy.
Controller General Faseeh’s active participation underscores the determination of Maldives Immigration to curb illegal residency and labor. Officials stress that if Operation Hamamagu proves effective, it will be replicated across additional urban and island hubs. They also warned that employers must conduct diligent visa verification before hiring or face intensified legal scrutiny.
