Pacific cops pledge to combat maritime drugs trade

A SUMMIT in Fiji has reinforced the importance of collaboration and consolidating efforts in support of regional security and law enforcement in the Pacific.

Fiji Police Force Commissioner (FPF) Rusiate Tudravu and AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett released an official communique from the first Pacific Transnational Crime Summit, held in Fiji from May 18-22.

The event focused on the opportunity to advance Pacific-led policing cooperation to combat the threat of transnational organised crime, carrying the theme of Connected by Ocean, United in the Fight.

The summit, co-hosted by the FPF and AFP, brought together law enforcement from across the Pacific and internationally, as well as members of the banking and finance sector.

In the communique, the Pacific police chiefs:

• Acknowledged the unique challenges the Pacific region faces in targeting the enablers of transnational organised crime, including corruption, technology and violence.
• Recommitted to the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) framework and commissioned a review of the PTCN terms of reference, incorporating maritime domain awareness.
• Welcomed the Pacific Police Ministers’ recommendation that an intelligence-led mechanism be developed for coordinated maritime interdictions of illicit drugs.
• Fully support the announcement of the International Joint Investigations Team (IJIT) comprising partners with Australian and New Zealand law enforcement agencies with the Colombian National Police to help stop illicit drug shipments coming to the region.

Commissioner Tudravu said the summit reinforced the importance of collaboration and consolidating efforts in support of regional security and law enforcement.

“The commonalities faced in the fight against transnational crime, while varying in scale, require collaboration across regional and international law enforcement, and this was evident throughout the summit,” Commissioner Tudravu said.

“With the backing of our police ministers, the onus is on us as police chiefs to ensure tangible outcomes that can be felt throughout our Pacific communities.”

Commissioner Barrett said with a key focus on combatting the region’s growing threat of illicit drugs – chiefly fuelled by Australia’s lucrative market for them - the summit recognised the best solutions for the Pacific came from Pacific leaders.

“Pacific Island Police Chiefs have watched from afar the impacts of illicit drugs on Australia and now they fear the diabolical reality facing their communities,” Commissioner Barrett said.

“Together, as heads of Pacific Police, we need to target the cartels and organised criminals who are trafficking the poison affecting our communities and our kids."