Four advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones and 40 body-worn cameras will be deployed for the first time at the country’s ports of entry over the coming Easter long weekend.
The drones are equipped with some of the most advanced night vision cameras in the world, including thermal detection technology.
Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the devices are able to recognise and lock onto heat sources, moving people, or vehicles. They can also travel at speeds up to 43 kilometres per hour and are capable of operating in remote rural areas without access to GPS and even underground.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the launch of technology marks the biggest step forward for enhancing border security and management.
“Data shows that when we first trialled the use of drones over the festive season, the number of attempted illegal crossings that were successfully prevented, increased by 215%,” said the Minister.
