A border control device has been established at the Male' seaport to strengthen port security.

According to Maldives Immigration, the device will increase efficiency in collecting passenger and vessel information, as well as identifying blacklisted passengers and passengers attempting to enter the country illegally.

In regard to the device, Immigration official Mohamed Ahmed Hussain (Hanafi) stated that the establishment of the device indicates enormous progress as it will bolster efforts to monitor and ensure port security.

Noting manual monitoring was the standard prior to the establishment of the device, immigration highlighted that the device will automate certain procedures to increase efficiency.

The device is part of the current administration's efforts to increase border security in the Maldives. Likewise, the device will be established at every seaport around the country.

Maldives Immigration has previously disclosed concerns about the lack of official records on the people entering the country via sea. Though a system was established in 2013, no module has been formed to collect such information in the past seven years. Hence, no official prior records of sea-route travelers exist, says Maldives Immigration.