Body scanner installed at INIA to find contraband hidden inside the body

A body scanner has been installed at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport to find and stop smugglers who are hiding contraband inside their body.

The joint effort by the Maldives Customs Service and the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) installed a Soter RS body scanner by the Dutch company, OD Security near the customs area at the Arrival terminal.

The Soter RS does a body X-ray in ten seconds revealing any hidden items inside the human body. It is an easier solution than strip searches and internal body searches at the hospital.

The machine can reveal hidden weapons, drugs, expensive jewels and diamonds along with other contrabands.

At a special ceremony held at INIA, the Economic Minister, Mohamed Saeed and the Home Minister, Azleen Ahmed inaugurated the special unit where the machine is installed.

Speaking at the ceremony, Home Minister Azleen said that the Maldives today have achieved the same level as other countries in Customs security.

Installing a body scanner at INIA before 2018 is constitutional rule over MACL and the Customs service.

Minister Azleen said that this was a big step against the import of drugs to the country and this would put an end to smuggling drugs by hiding them inside the body.