Maldives Immigration authorities have detained three foreign nationals on work visas for their involvement in a large-scale prostitution ring operating in the country. The arrests followed a coordinated operation between the Immigration authorities and the Maldives Police Service.
The individuals involved, identified as two Vietnamese women – Thi Minh Vu, 44, and Thi Hang Dao, 38 – as well as Southida Phimmasone, a 37-year-old woman from Laos, were all taken into custody. Following their detention, two of the women have already been deported, while efforts are ongoing to deport the remaining individual.
Thi Minh Vu was deported on February 28th, while Thi Hang Dao was sent back to Vietnam on March 15th. The Laotian woman, Phimmasone, is still in the process of being deported.
The operation marks part of the government’s larger initiative to tackle illegal immigration and related criminal activities, including prostitution. Immigration officials have confirmed that raids targeting illegal migrants and individuals engaging in unlawful activities are being conducted regularly across the country.
The Maldives government continues to intensify its efforts to address illegal immigration, with increased focus on rooting out exploitation and criminal behavior. The crackdown aims to prevent further exploitation of migrants and ensure the safety and integrity of the country’s workforce.
Maldives Immigration has urged all foreign nationals working in the country to ensure their activities align with the legal parameters of their visas, warning that violations will be met with swift action, including detention and deportation.
