Maldives main airport to install 23 more cameras
"There are problems on cameras that don't always work well, but we are resolving it all", Commissioner of Customs said.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Commissioner of Customs Abdulla Shareef said on Thursday that he has asked for 23 more cameras to be installed at Velana International Airport (VIA) in the wake of the alleged disappearance of two luggages suspected to be carrying drugs.
In the case of two suitcases suspected to be carrying drugs on two different days last month, the police said there were no cameras at some important locations at the airport. Abdulla Shareef also spoke about the same on Raajje TV's ‘Fashaairu’ programme today.
He said he believed there were fewer cameras at the airport. However, due to the limited space at the terminal, even the cameras often don't see things in clearly during congested hours, he said.
"Not every airport in the world can check 100% of the incoming people. Firstly, when three or four flights land at the airport, there is very little space in the direction of that belt and the exit of the customs. That's why even the actual cameras don't see much when it's congested," the commissioner said.
He added that the locations where 23 more cameras need to be installed have also been identified and shared with MACL.
"There are problems on cameras that don't always work well, but we are resolving it all. We are now sending a request for 23 more cameras to MACL," said Abdullah Shareef.
He said that though there are fewer cameras, customs officials will physically be adequately deployed at the terminal and check-ins.
"Maybe there's a chance. No matter how much we check, there are chances and there may be instances where nothing could be seen on a busy day at the airport, especially. But I'm 100% sure that once we discover drugs in a luggage we will not lose it. God willing, that would not happen," he said.
Two luggages of two Pakistani nationals, who had come to Maldives, are believed to have gone missing while they were being questioned on suspicion that they might be smuggling drugs. People coming from some countries are questioned at the airport at random. Their luggages and other items are cleared when they are questioned and not further investigated.
Two luggages were found missing and none of them came under the scanner of customs officials, the agency said.
