Maldives Immigration rejected admission to 248 people, including 168 Indians, off a GoAir flight on Friday, and re-routed them on the same flight as they sought to enter the country with fraudulent hotel reservations.
According to Immigration, a large number of foreigners were duped into entering the Maldives using forged vouchers. The Immigration Department is unsure whether the people were duped by an Indian or a Maldivian agent.
According to the Times of India, 168 of the 248 people turned back were Indian citizens seeking quarantine in the Maldives before travelling to the Middle East for work.
The report also stated that INR 150,000 was taken from passengers under the promise of work in a large scam that is presently being investigated by Indian authorities.
Mohamed Ahmed Hassain, Controller General of Maldives Immigration, praised the diligent officers for uncovering the scam and seized the opportunity to promise that Immigration will stay steadfast in preserving the Maldives’ borders.
Immigration officials informed the media that the case is no longer being investigated since the passengers were apprehended before entering the country, and immigration laws specify that such matters would only be investigated after the passengers have entered the country.
