A total of 724 people have been arrested in Mauritius for immigration offences since the start of the year, according to official figures released by the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO). The arrests were made during a widespread crackdown on illegal residency, involving 146 operations carried out by the PIO and various divisions and branches of the service. The operations resulted in the detention of individuals from various nationalities.
The majority of those arrested have been repatriated, with 691 individuals successfully returned to their countries of origin. This represents approximately 95% of the total arrests made. The data, which covers the period from 1 January to 25 September 2026, does not constitute a full annual report. The PIO has not specified the current status of the remaining 33 individuals who were arrested but not listed among the repatriations.
The demographic data highlights that the crackdown disproportionately affected male nationals, with 612 men and 112 women arrested. The majority of those arrested came from four countries: Madagascar, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. These nationalities accounted for 624 arrests, roughly 86% of the total. Madagascar had the highest number of arrests, with 242 nationals detained.
The breakdown by nationality shows that India had 152 nationals arrested, Bangladesh had 149, and Nepal had 81. Other nationalities, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Kenya, had smaller numbers of arrests. A total of 38 Nigerian, 22 Ghanaian, 13 Cameroonian, and 9 Kenyan nationals were arrested. Four arrests were logged for each of the Rwandan, Congolese, and Sri Lankan nationalities.
The enforcement action involved a total of 146 operations, split between 67 carried out by the Tracking Team and 79 conducted by various divisions and branches of the service. The PIO noted that the data only covers up to 25 September 2026 and does not provide a comprehensive picture of the entire year. The office has not released further information on the status of the remaining individuals.
The crackdown on illegal residency is part of a broader effort to manage immigration in Mauritius. The government has been working to strengthen its immigration policies and enforcement mechanisms. The PIO has been working closely with various agencies to identify and detain individuals who are residing in the country illegally.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges related to immigration in Mauritius. With 724 arrests made so far this year, the issue remains a significant concern for authorities. The government will likely continue to face pressure to manage the flow of people into the country and address the issue of illegal residency.
Key points
- 724 people arrested in Mauritius for immigration offences this year
- 95% of those arrested have been repatriated
- The majority of those arrested came from Madagascar, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal
