Immigration’s Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) has been upgraded, says Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology Maleeh Jamaal.

PISCES is a border control database system based on biometrics developed by US-based Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.

Authorities use the technology to watchlist and exchange information with the United States Department of State about suspected terrorists appearing at their borders. The US-government stated that the information is used to track and apprehend individual terrorists.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, Minister Maleeh said that Maldives has been using PISCES for years after it was gifted by the US government and that it was severely outdated when he was appointed. He said that a US team recently came to Maldives to upgrade the system’s hardware and software.

Minister Maleeh said that the team had also conducted a training program with 130 participants from Immigration, the police service, and defence force.

The Minister said that the border system was upgraded in all parts of the Maldives within five months and that they now use a web-based system.