Maldives to finish expats' biometric data collection by April
Ihsan confirmed that the first phase of the operation has now been expanded nationwide.
Homeland security minister Ali Ihsan announced on Tuesday that the process of collecting biometric data of expatriate workers under Operation Kurangi is expected to be completed by April.
Speaking at a press conference at the President's Office, Ihsan confirmed that the first phase of the operation has now been expanded nationwide.
Ihsan provided updates on the operation, stating that it is currently being conducted in 82 locations across the Maldives, with the fingerprints and biometric data of 6,891 foreigners collected so far.
“The target is to complete the first phase before April, with work expected to finish by January,” he said.
Operation Kurangi is part of the government's initiative to address the issue of illegal immigrants in the Maldives. The operation is being conducted in three phases, aiming to identify the nationality and gather information on foreign nationals residing in different parts of the country.
By the end of the first year, the government aims to have a clearer understanding of the number of foreign nationals in various regions, their countries of origin, and their local sponsors or employers. In the subsequent two years, biometric and photo identification will be used to identify undocumented individuals.
For those whose information is not available within the government system, the authorities will reach out to the relevant embassies to obtain original documentation and confirm the individual’s identity for deportation if necessary.
