Pacific declares war on drug syndicates

Pacific police ministers have declared a regional war on organised crime amid growing fears that drug syndicates are expanding across the region and threatening national security.

The warning came during the inaugural Pacific Police Ministers Meeting at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay yesterday, where leaders acknowledged that the Pacific was no longer just a transit route for drugs but was increasingly becoming a destination market.

“Australia needs to do more and is doing more,” Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Cyber Security, Immigration and Citizenship, and Arts Tony Burke said.

“The Pacific is not simply a transit location for these drugs; it has also become a cruel destination in its own right.”

Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Cyber Security, Immigration and Citizenship, and Arts Tony Burke.

Ministry of Policing

Mr Burke revealed Australian authorities intercepted 8000 kilograms of illegal drugs in 2024, with operations targeting cartels in Colombia and Mexico.

He stressed that Pacific nations could not afford delays in strengthening regional cooperation as criminal syndicates were already operating across borders.

Fiji’s Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said the summit marked a turning point in the region’s response to organised crime.

He said Pacific countries could no longer afford to remain reactive and needed to confront the crisis through a united regional effort.

Mr Naivalurua revealed Fiji had established the National Joint Enforcement Centre aimed at strengthening coordination between security agencies in response to increasingly organised criminal networks.

The minister also highlighted growing cooperation between the Fiji Police Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in tackling the drug crisis.

“We are now working closely with the Fiji military. We all know that the community is well organised; they have abundant resources and capabilities,” he said.

“However, having said that, on this particular initiative, Police remain the lead organisation, and everything is within the law.

“If we develop this well, it could also be used as a regional hub.”

The summit also raised concerns that corruption and weak intelligence systems could undermine efforts to combat transnational crime across the Pacific.