Australia, New Zealand, Colombia launch drug task force for Pacific

Australia, New Zealand and Colombia have launched a joint task force aimed at stopping illicit drug shipments before they reach Pacific shores, as police warn the region is facing an escalating drug crisis.

The announcement was made during a press conference at the inaugural Pacific Transnational Crime Summit, co-hosted by the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay yesterday.

Pacific police officers are not part of the joint task force.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the new task force would work directly with the Colombian National Police to disrupt illicit drug supply chains and their source.

“I am also proud to announce funding from the AFP, New Zealand Police, the Australian Border Force and New Zealand Customs to launch an international joint investigation team partnering with the Colombian National Police to help stop illicit drug shipments coming into the region,” Ms Barrett said.

She said 17 tonnes of illicit drugs, mainly cocaine, had already been seized across the Pacific since January, highlighting the growing threat facing island nations.

“The illicit drug threat to the Pacific is exponentially increasing, corroding health systems, family structures and our future generations.

“They create misery in our communities and wreak havoc in our countries.

“As heads of Pacific police, we need to target the cartels and organised criminals trafficking the poison affecting our communities and our children,” she said.

The task force will connect investigations across the Pacific, Australia and South America to target cartels, traffickers and trans-shipment operations.

New Zealand Police commissioner Richard Chambers said the investment in Colombia was being made on behalf of the Pacific region.

“The investment we will be making into Colombia is on behalf of the Pacific region, alongside the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force, and we do that with pride because we care about the Pacific region,” Mr Chambers said.

Fiji Police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said Pacific police chiefs remained united in combating organised crime and corruption.

“The mobilisation of Pacific police against transnational serious organised crime is not new. Since 2002, Pacific law enforcement agencies have come together through the Pacific Transnational Crime Network in Fiji, beginning more than two decades of collaboration on information and intelligence sharing,” he said.

Mr Tudravu said transnational organised crime respected no borders, making seamless regional co-operation critical in tackling serious criminal networks.