Home Minister Imran Abdulla has said 99 people were arrested in the past four years in police operations targeting prostitution rings.
Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed asked Home Minister Imran Abdullah to explain in writing the efforts made in the past three years to prevent illegal activities committed by foreigners living illegally in the Maldives.
In his written reply, Minister Imran shared police statistics on operations related to prostitution rings. According to the numbers, 32 people were arrested in 14 operations in 2019, while 25 people were arrested in nine operations in 2020. In 2021, 25 people were arrested in seven operations, while 14 were arrested in three operations last year.
Police noted some criminal activities committed by foreigners living in the Maldives illegally that violate common social standards in the Maldives. These include prostitution, gambling, and drug use. The police noted that expatriates beg on Male City streets and chase locals in parking lots in hopes of being tasked with cleaning their motorcycles.
