Former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, has been arrested under a court order, police confirmed. 

His arrest follows allegations of exploiting immigrants for financial gain.

Authorities stated that Shamaan was taken into custody at his residence after police discovered a significant amount of money. 

The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into reports that immigration officers were unlawfully profiting from foreign workers.

According to the police, an operation was carried out after receiving intelligence regarding immigration employees engaging in illicit financial activities. 

During an operation, immigration officers raided a residence occupied by foreign workers, leading to the confiscation of MVR 530,000, and were taken under immigration’s detention.

One of the foreign workers was reportedly released.

Police highlighted that this raid was not conducted by the official task force responsible for handling illegal immigrants or by the risk management section of the Immigration Department. 

The released foreign worker allegedly met with immigration officers on the street before proceeding to the building where Shamaan resided.

A total of five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, with electronic devices also being seized under a court order. 

Additionally, police have taken three more suspects into custody as part of the broader investigation.