The Homeland Security Ministry has launched "Operation Kurangi" in Kaafu Himmafushi island today to address the problem of illegal immigrants.
Under this operation, illegal immigrants in Himmafushi will be tracked, fingerprinted and allowed to enter the system.
Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan said the first phase of the project has started today and the target is to complete the project in three years.
The first phase is expected to be completed within one year, he said, adding that work will be done to bring illegal immigrants into the system.
Launch of operation Kurangi in Himmafushi. -- Photo: Mihaaru
“Operation Kurangi is an important step towards bringing a permanent solution to the problem of illegal immigrants in Maldives which has been going on for many years. We are taking this issue as a security risk for national security," he said.
Under this project, the number of illegal immigrants, their countries of origin, jobs and the people in charge of them will be determined within the first year.
Ihusan said many efforts had been made in the past to address the problem of illegal immigrants and a plan has been drawn up to identify the root cause of the problem.
The operation uses an existing system for registering foreigners. However, a separate portal has been created for this operation.
