Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett has emphasized Australia’s dedication to collaborating with Fiji to tackle organized crime, announcing that the AFP and the Fiji Police Force will jointly host a significant Organised Crime Summit in May 2026. This announcement was made during a press conference in Suva, where Commissioner Barrett expressed her enthusiasm to be in Fiji for this important event.
She stated, “There is no other place that I would rather be today than to stand side by side with you,” underscoring the importance of the upcoming summit. Barrett described the event as a “historic summit” that could serve as a pivotal moment in targeting the organized criminals that threaten the region’s way of life and sovereignty with their activities.
The Commissioner highlighted the complexity and scale of the criminal networks operating in the Pacific, stressing that they necessitate a united response. “These well-funded and entrenched criminal cartels and gangs require a strong, united Pacific bloc to identify, target and disrupt their illicit operating model,” she noted.
Barrett affirmed that the collaborative efforts between Fiji, Australia, and other Pacific partners are already yielding positive results and that the summit would enhance this cooperation. “Fiji and Australia, with our Pacific partners, will fight to keep our region safe, and we are already doing this together with great success,” she remarked.
The summit will address specific Pacific-focused organized crime issues, including the trafficking of illicit commodities, money laundering, cybercrime, foreign interference, and environmental crimes such as illegal fishing and logging. It is expected to convene senior law enforcement leaders from across the region, representatives of the Five Eyes law-enforcement alliance, and officials from international organizations such as INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Barrett concluded by emphasizing that the summit would utilize the latest intelligence and technology to enhance community safety in Fiji, Australia, and the broader Pacific region. “The fight against organised crime takes vision and fortitude, and I’m proud to be standing next to a partner who has the courage and determination to meet the challenges ahead,” she stated, reflecting a hopeful outlook on the collaborative efforts to combat organized crime.
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