Fiji’s Navy Commander, Captain Timoci Natuva, emphasized the importance of collaboration among maritime agencies to effectively monitor and combat suspected drug trafficking activities within the nation’s waters. He noted that the Navy has been actively working in partnership with the Fiji Police Force through established intelligence-sharing arrangements.
“We’ve been working with the police sharing some information, so whenever we need to understand some of the vessels, they give us requests for information that we provide them,” Captain Natuva stated, highlighting the proactive measures in place to enhance maritime vigilance.
He acknowledged that while intelligence alerts have been assessed as they come in, recent high-level reports have been sparse, underscoring an ongoing challenge in gathering actionable intelligence. “In terms of intelligence, not recently,” he remarked, indicating the need for continued vigilance and resource optimization.
To bolster their efforts, Captain Natuva mentioned that there are initiatives underway to synchronize surveillance operations among the various agencies engaged in maritime security. “We’re trying to synchronise all our efforts with working in the maritime space,” he said, illustrating the commitment to a unified approach.
Furthermore, he presented the significance of regional cooperation and interconnected information networks in strengthening Fiji’s maritime security framework. “We have our partners, regional partners that support us as well, so there’s efforts trying to manage maritime security,” he added, making it clear that such collaborations are essential in safeguarding the extensive maritime borders of Fiji.
Given the vastness of Fiji’s waters and the limited resources available, Captain Natuva asserted that community information plays a crucial role in countering transnational drug movements. The collaboration between various agencies and the community itself is seen as vital in the ongoing fight against maritime drug trafficking within Fiji’s jurisdiction.
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