The Maldives has recovered MVR 1.1 billion from unpaid dues owed by employers in relation to foreign workers, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has announced. Speaking at the Presidential Statement 2025 Forum, the minister said the total owed to the state initially stood at MVR 1.8 billion, which has now been reduced to approximately MVR 600 million following government intervention.
Minister Ihusaan also highlighted ongoing efforts to regulate undocumented migrants in the country. As part of “Operation Kurangi,” authorities have collected biometric data from 44,000 undocumented migrants, a nationwide initiative aimed at improving foreign labour monitoring and addressing illegal immigration concerns.
Beyond immigration matters, the minister outlined plans to strengthen security and law enforcement, particularly in tackling the Maldives’ drug problem. He announced that the government will establish Drug Offender Remand Centres in three regions this year, with a focus on rehabilitation-based treatment for offenders.
Minister Ihusaan also revealed that authorities had intercepted MVR 1.2 billion worth of drugs last year, with operations intensifying across the atolls. He pointed to Fuvahmulah City as an example of successful enforcement efforts, where authorities claim to have shut down drug cafés and arrested key figures involved in the trade.
The government is further pushing for legislative reforms, with proposed amendments to the Narcotics Act and new laws targeting gang-related crimes. Minister Ihusaan noted that while previous legislation existed, it had not been effective in resolving these issues. He expressed confidence that the new measures would strengthen legal mechanisms to combat organised crime in the Maldives.
The government has framed these efforts—recovering unpaid dues, tackling undocumented migration, and enforcing drug laws—as part of a broader push to improve national security and public safety.
