Maldives' main airport launches smart gate service
With the smart gate service, the clearance process for passengers who need to get clearance from the Green Channel will be faster.
By
Ahmed Mizyal
The Maldives Customs Service has launched a smart gate service at Velana International Airport (VIA).
The service was launched by MACL CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohammed at a ceremony held at VIA Wednesday morning.
MACL said the smart gate service will enable passengers using the VIA to complete customs clearance easily and quickly.
It will also help in curbing crimes such as terrorism, money laundering and human trafficking, preventing the entry of drugs and contraband into the country, and preventing illegal activities, it said in a statement.
Until now, the practice was to affix red stickers to passengers' luggage while scanning it through the customs risk management system and open the luggage through the red channel.
With the Smart Gate service:
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The red sticker will now be replaced by a 'Radio Frequency Identification' (RFID) tag
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The owner of the luggage will have to go to the Red Channel and obtain customs clearance
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It is illegal to leave without completing customs clearance; the smart gate will detect the luggage of passengers who are about to leave and set off an alarm
With the smart gate service, the clearance process for passengers who need to get clearance from the Green Channel will be faster and completed without any hindrance.
At the launch of the smart gate service, MACL CEO and MD Shareef said the company is ready to work with the relevant authorities to further facilitate the services provided to passengers through VIA.
"Today we have started one of the most important things. This will speed up the service to passengers and solve the difficulties faced," he said.
