Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has reinforced Australia’s dedication to collaborating with Fiji in the fight against organized crime. She announced during a press conference in Suva that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Fiji Police Force will jointly host a significant Organised Crime Summit in May 2026.
Barrett expressed her enthusiasm for the venue, stating, “There is no other place that I would rather be today than to stand side by side with you to announce the AFP and Fiji Police Force will co-host an organised crime summit in May next year.” She highlighted the importance of this historic summit, emphasizing its potential to change how authorities combat sophisticated criminal networks that threaten the region’s safety and sovereignty.
With organized crime continually evolving, Barrett pointed out the urgent need for a collective approach among Pacific nations to effectively disrupt entrenched criminal organizations. She remarked, “These well-funded and entrenched criminal cartels and gangs require a strong, united Pacific bloc to identify, target and disrupt their illicit operating model.” The Commissioner underscored the commitment of both police forces to enhancing community safety, stating that their actions speak louder than words.
The summit aims to address a range of Pacific-specific organized crime issues, including illicit commodities, money laundering, cybercrime, foreign interference, environmental crime, and illegal fishing and logging. It will convene senior law enforcement leaders from across the region as well as representatives from the Five Eyes law enforcement group and international agencies such as INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Barrett affirmed that the collaboration between Fiji, Australia, and Pacific partners is already yielding positive results. “Fiji and Australia, with our Pacific partners, will fight to keep our region safe, and we are already doing this together and with great success,” she said. The upcoming summit is poised to leverage advanced intelligence capabilities and the latest technology in the ongoing fight against organized crime, highlighting the courage and determination of regional partners to address these pressing challenges.
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