Today, 26th October 2010, the Controller of Immigration Sheik Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim inaugurated the first ever Forensic Document Laboratory at Immigration of Maldives and the Advanced Document Training Program. The inauguration ceremony of Forensic Document laboratory was hosted at the Male’ International Airport and was attended by most of the senior management. On his brief speech the Controller stressed the importance of having a Forensic Document Laboratory, stating the vital role of immigration in fighting people smuggling, trafficking and other transnational organized crime and setting up such a laboratory would ease the efforts for interdicting such travelers. Also he included that in an environment of increasing technological advancement, it is essential that immigration as gatekeepers to their country, exercise sound document examination capabilities. He had also marked the importance of having such a laboratory with the latest equipment would assist immigration in developing international procedures and best-practices to counter threats from global crime and terrorism. Controller’s speech was followed by a few brief words from the Australian team Mr. Hamish Cowen. Mr. Cowen highlighted the significance of forensic examining in documents as well as the close bond between the two nations.
The inauguration ceremony of Advanced Document Training was held at Holiday Inn, Ball Room. This 3 day training program was targeted to already experience Immigration officers to enhance the knowledge of 
Document handling .The lectures are facilitated by two Forensic Document Examiners from Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Mr. David Godfrey Alexander and Mr. Hamish Cowen John. During the brief speech the Controller affirmed that these kinds of training would help to provide and improve understanding of the different levels of document examination capabilities required within the immigration environment. Controller’s speech was followed by a few words from Mr. David Godfrey. He said conducting trainings of different levels is essential to develop and maintain that capability, also that this program has specifically been tailored to meet the national and international security standards.
Document handling .The lectures are facilitated by two Forensic Document Examiners from Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Mr. David Godfrey Alexander and Mr. Hamish Cowen John. During the brief speech the Controller affirmed that these kinds of training would help to provide and improve understanding of the different levels of document examination capabilities required within the immigration environment. Controller’s speech was followed by a few words from Mr. David Godfrey. He said conducting trainings of different levels is essential to develop and maintain that capability, also that this program has specifically been tailored to meet the national and international security standards. Department of Immigration and Emigration is thankful to Australian Immigration Citizenship for their assistance and cooperation extended to Department of Immigration and Emigration. The Controller of Immigration and Emigration extends his gratitude, namely to Mr. Nigel Muir, Migration Integrity Officer, Mr. Hamish Cowen, Forensic Document Examiner and Mr. David Godfrey, Forensic Document Examiner for sharing their wealthy knowledge and experience with Immigration.
