Maldives collects biometric data of 705 expats in ‘Operation Kurangi’

Maldivian authorities have collected the biometric data of 705 expatriates as part of ‘Operation Kurangi’ – a special operation launched by the Home Ministry earlier this month, in an effort to curtail illegal migration.

The operation, which is set to be rolled out in phases, was launched from K. Himmafushi on May 2.

The first phase of the operation seeks to collect the biometric data of all migrant workers in the Maldives.

Fathimath Rifaath, a spokesperson for the Home Ministry, told Sun on Wednesday that the ministry will announce the second island from where the data will be collected, as soon as things wrap up in Himmafushi.

Home Minister Ali Ihusan had said the ministry would expand the operation to five more regions “soon.”

At a session of the ‘Ahaa’ public forum back in April, Ihusan said the issue of undocumented migrants will be resolved in three years.

He said that the collection of biometric data of migrants was just phase one of the operation, which is expected to wrap up within one year. He said that once the data on all migrants are collected and entered into a system, the government will then regularize all undocumented migrants.

Ihusan warned that those who fail to make use of the opportunity will be deported, but stressed that the goal is not to arrest and deport migrants, but to give them a chance to get regularized.