The Maldives Immigration Department has arrested three foreign nationals for residing in the country without valid visas.

The arrests were made as part of a targeted operation conducted on Thursday to address illegal immigration.

According to Immigration, the operation involved inspections at an accommodation block and a café where foreigners were residing.

Earlier in the week, officers also searched five small markets in the city, leading to the arrest of two additional foreign nationals on Tuesday.

The government has introduced a three-year plan to implement long-term solutions for addressing illegal immigration in the Maldives.

In line with these efforts, Immigration is conducting special operations across various parts of the country, as well as surveillance in public areas of the capital.