In the Maldives, 186 foreigners, including 43 Indians, have been deported after being accused of committing crimes such as visa violations and drug offenses, according to a recent media report.

According to a report from Mal-based news outlet Adhadhu, the highest number of people deported from the Maldives were from Bangladesh, totalling at least 83 individuals. This was followed by 43 deportees from India, 25 from Sri Lanka, and 8 from Nepal. The date of their deportation is not yet known.

The deportations coincide with ongoing efforts in the Maldives to shut down businesses operating illegally.

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan stated during a press briefing on Tuesday that the ministry is collaborating with the Economic Ministry to address illegal businesses operating under various names.

These businesses include both registered and unregistered entities, as noted by Minister Ihusan. He further highlighted that among them are businesses operated by foreigners instead of the registered owners.

Ihusan stated that the Home Ministry was actively working on shutting down such businesses and deporting the foreigners who operate them.

If the registrar has sufficient evidence to believe that a business is operated by a foreigner, either directly or indirectly earning profits, a law enacted in December 2021 allows for the termination of the registration of such businesses.

Immigration Controller Shamaan Waheed reported that 186 foreigners found to have committed crimes have been deported from the Maldives. Immigration detained several people in operations conducted to find foreign workers who committed criminal offences.