Drug trafficking among threats keeping Pacific leaders awake, says Tikoduadua

Drug trafficking, organised crime and a growing web of interconnected threats are placing unprecedented pressure on Pacific nations, with Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua warning that security challenges are now hitting families, communities and governments all at once.

Speaking at the Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Mr Tikoduadua said Pacific countries were confronting a rapidly evolving security environment where one crisis often triggered several others.

"What surprises me is how quickly in the Pacific one problem becomes many problems," he said.

"Problems cannot be treated nationally, in isolation of any other country or any other institution within the state where the problem is. It very quickly becomes complex, and finding solutions to fix it becomes even more complex."

Mr Tikoduadua said challenges such as tropical cyclones, food insecurity, health concerns, housing pressures, law and order issues and transnational organised crime were becoming increasingly interconnected.

"What keeps me awake at night is not just the threat we presently face. Threats continue to multiply and evolve – they don't come in succession; they all come together. So we need to be smart," he said.

The minister said the rise of drug trafficking across the Pacific had added another layer of complexity, affecting families, schools and communities.

"Security is not only a technical issue – it affects government, public services and the private sector. When one problem starts, it is not confined to that issue only; it very quickly becomes other things as well," he said.

Mr Tikoduadua also stressed that public trust was critical to effective security responses.

"We can have police officers, the military, a good judiciary and the right technology everywhere – but what about the people? Do they trust us to look after them?" he said.

He said governments and security institutions must lead by example and uphold the law.

"The government and its institutions that look after security must always act within the law and follow the law first, before insisting that others do so," he said.

In a personal reflection on the impact of organised crime, Mr Tikoduadua revealed that his daughter, a police officer, was seriously injured in an incident involving alleged drug traffickers.

"About six to seven weeks ago, my daughter – who is a policewoman – was run over by drug traffickers involving people of several nationalities. She is still struggling with her life," he said.

"Because we are small, threats hit very quickly at the centre of what matters to us most: our families."

Mr Tikoduadua urged Pacific nations to move beyond discussion and focus on practical action.

"We need to fund our people, train them, pass the right laws, change old habits and deliver results," he said.