Biometric data of over 25,000 migrant workers collected

Home Minister Ali Ihsan states biometric data of over 25,000 migrant workers have been collected under Operation Kurangi – an initiative launched last year to collect the biometric data of all migrant workers in the Maldives.

Operation Kurangi, aimed at resolving the longstanding issue of illegal migration in the Maldives, will see the collection to biometric data of all migrant workers in the Maldives and ensure they are residing in the Maldives in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

The operation was expanded to the greater Male’ area on Saturday.

Minister Ihusan, via a post on X on Saturday night, shared the details of the biometric data collected under the operation.

In this regard, he noted that Saturday marked the expansion of the operation to private sector and public spaces in the greater Male’ area. As per the Minister, the biometric data, including fingerprints and photos for facial recognition, were collected from 1,455 migrant workers on Saturday, following which the database has been updated.

Minister Ihusan said the biometric data of 10,000 migrant workers were collected as of November 17, 2024, when President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had delivered a national address. Since then, biometric data of an additional 15,000 migrant workers have been collected over the past two months,

As such, the Minister said biometric data from 25,484 migrant workers have been collected under the operation as of yesterday.

“By the will of the Almighty, these efforts under the three-year plan to permanently resolve the issue of illegal immigration in the Maldives will successfully be completed in April of 2027,” he added.

The Minister, noting the operation is assisted by Maldives Immigration, Maldives Police Service, home sector employees and local councils, extended gratitude to them for their efforts.