The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) have formalised a strategic partnership with Nawi Island Marina in Savusavu by signing a Memorandum of Understanding that binds the three parties to closer, coordinated border surveillance and operational cooperation. The agreement, signed at a ceremony held at the marina, gives Fiji’s border agencies designated operational space on site and access to the marina’s live CCTV feeds to support joint operations and real-time monitoring.
Under the MoU, the agencies agree to share relevant information and resources, consult and provide mutual assistance during joint operations, and carry out coordinated surveillance activities to safeguard Fiji’s borders. The document also commits the partners to promote and enhance collaboration in line with their respective mandates and to support capacity building on matters of mutual interest.
FRCS chief customs officer Nausad Ali said the formal arrangement strengthens on-the-ground capacity for enforcement and deterrence. “Border security remains a critical priority in ensuring compliance and supporting legitimate industry participants. At the same time, those who engage in illegal activities will face the full consequences of the law,” Mr Ali said, adding that the partnership helps protect Fijians from harmful and illicit substances entering domestic shores. He thanked Nawi Island Marina for providing space and resources to assist officers in carrying out their duties.
BAF acting chief executive officer Surend Pratap emphasised the biosecurity benefits of the cooperation. He commended the collective effort and noted that closer collaboration is essential to maintaining effective biosecurity measures and safeguarding Fiji’s natural resources and agricultural sector. The presence of a marine biologist among signatories underlines the environmental and quarantine considerations built into the agreement.
Representatives from Nawi Island Marina present at the signing included general manager Jitendra Prasad, chief of security Clarence Reid, marina manager Grace Lee, HR manager Annie Simpson, and marine biologist Sarah Makutu, alongside officers from FRCS and BAF. Nawi Island Marina has committed to providing the physical space for agency operations and facilitating access to its CCTV system to enhance surveillance and support investigations.
Officials described the MoU as a significant step toward improving inter-agency cooperation and operational readiness in Savusavu, where maritime access points can present both legitimate economic opportunities and potential vectors for illicit activity and biosecurity threats. By formalising arrangements that had previously been ad hoc, the agreement is intended to streamline coordinated responses, reduce delays in information sharing, and bolster preventive measures at a key coastal facility.
The collaboration reflects wider regional emphasis on strengthening border controls and inter-agency partnerships to confront transnational threats such as drug trafficking and biosecurity incursions. FRCS and BAF said the new arrangement with Nawi Island Marina will be monitored and developed through ongoing engagement to ensure it meets operational needs and contributes to the continued protection, safety and biosecurity of Fiji’s borders.
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