Seventeen cases related to forged passports investigated

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has said that its Airport Border Control Section and Intelligence Unit have investigated seventeen cases related to forged passports and documents.

Immigration Department said today that it is working in collaboration with other relevant authorities on monitoring the country’s borders as securely as possible. They assured citizens that Immigration Officers are on alert to prevent human trafficking and smuggling.

“We are working on monitoring the country’s borders as securely as possible. Human trafficking and smuggling will not be tolerated via the Maldives. Our officers are vigilantly monitoring this,” an Immigration Department official said.

The Immigration Department normally does not disclose any details to media of persons who attempt to enter the Maldives using forged passports.

When asked, the department said that such details are not disclosed as the issue is related to national security, and could interfere with relations with other countries.

In 2012, Immigration Department caught and repatriated over 100 people who attempted to enter Maldives or travel to other countries via Maldives using forged passports.

The department also caught two Pakistanis last Sunday, who attempted to enter Maldives via Dubai using forged passport.