Two well-known foreign beauticians operating salons in the Maldives have been deported for visa violations.
Rajani Shrestha (Riz) of Riz Beauty Salon and Sushmita Daugoda (Suzu) of Suzu Beauty Salon were arrested in separate operations conducted by Maldives Immigration, as part of broader initiatives by the authority to identify illegal immigrants.
Immigration said Riz was taken into custody on the 11th of this month following a special inspection conducted based on information received by Immigration Watch. Authorities discovered that she was conducting business illegally outside the scope of her visa. Riz and her four foreign employees were subsequently deported on August 13 due to a lack of valid visas.
According to Immigration, Suzu was taken into custody on August 18. She was also deported on August 20 for conducting business illegally outside the terms of her visa.
Since President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November 2023, over 2,000 illegal immigrants have been deported as part of ongoing immigration operations. Several more are currently being held in immigration custody.
