Fiji is currently facing significant challenges regarding money laundering, largely driven by a combination of five primary crime threats, which include narcotics trafficking, organized crime, tax and customs violations, environmental crimes, along with bribery and corruption. These findings emerged from a recent National Risk Assessment (NRA) aimed at evaluating Fiji’s vulnerability to money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
The report highlights specific vulnerabilities present within the financial sector and offers a comprehensive risk assessment across 25 different economic sectors. According to National Anti-Money Laundering Council Chair, Selina Kuruleca, several sectors such as commercial banks, foreign exchange dealers, payment service providers, legal practitioners, and real estate agents exhibit particularly high levels of vulnerability. Their respective high transaction volumes, diverse customer bases, and varied service offerings significantly elevate their risk profiles.
While these sectors face pressing challenges, others have been classified as having medium to low vulnerabilities. Importantly, the assessment concluded that the overall risk of terrorist financing in Fiji remains low due to the country’s stable environment and robust institutional and legal frameworks. The potential risk of circumventing financial sanctions against nations like North Korea and Iran—termed proliferation financing—also received a low-risk rating.
Ms. Kuruleca emphasized the value of this assessment as a crucial step towards fostering a robust and transparent financial system in Fiji, equipping law enforcement with critical insights to address criminal threats and highlight systemic weaknesses. In response to the identified risks, the National Anti-Money Laundering Council is actively updating national policies and aims to collaborate with governmental bodies, private entities, and civil society organizations to execute strategic priorities effectively.
The NRA was conducted by the National AML Council, which consists of key figures, including the Permanent Secretary for Justice, the heads of the Reserve Bank, Police Force, Revenue and Customs Service, Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Director of Public Prosecutions. The report, endorsed in late 2025, signifies Fiji’s steadfast commitment to adhering to international anti-money laundering standards as outlined by the Financial Action Task Force. Such efforts reflect a positive move towards enhancing global financial integrity while addressing domestic challenges.
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