Biometric data of 150,000 expats recorded to date

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has said that to date, biometric information of 150,000 expatriates have been recorded.

Speaking on State TV's 'Raajje Miadhu' programme on Wednesday, Ihusan stated that fingerprints and ID photos of 150,000 expatriates have been gathered under 'Operation Kuran'gi' as of now.

Operation Kuran'gi was started in May, 2024, with the aim of collecting biometric data of all expatriates working in the Maldives. The Ministry notified expatriates that the end of June is the last deadline to report to authorities and provide this information. Those who fail to do so will be deported, the announcement said.

Under the government's efforts to resolve the issue of undocumented expatriates living and working illegally in the Maldives, over 5000 expatriates have been deported over the past one and a half years.

Last July, the ministry also published names of employees who bring in expatriate workers and then fail to pay their visa fees.