The Ministry of Home Affairs has reported that biometric data from more than 18,000 expatriates has been collected so far under Operation Kurangi, which was initiated to gather information about foreigners living in the Maldives.

State Minister of Home Affairs, Abdul Majeed Ibrahim, told the "Sarukaaru" newspaper today that biometric data from 18,919 expatriates has been collected under the operation, which began in May this year. He also stated that the work has started in 194 islands and has been completed in 50 islands.

The Ministry of Homeland previously stated that under Operation Kurangi, they will take fingerprints of expatriates working in the Maldives and verify if the expatriate is working under the laws and regulations established in the Maldives. The information is being collected by setting up biometric data collection facilities at council offices. The Ministry of Homeland has said that they will create a main registry of expatriates based on this information.

In the first phase of the operation, which is being carried out in different stages, information about expatriate workers is being collected. However, instead of taking action against them, opportunities will be provided for those who want to regularize their status among the expatriates living illegally.

After the completion of the first phase, the Ministry of Homeland has stated that they will create biometric identification for expatriates living without official documentation and illegally, and work with embassies of their countries to repatriate them.