Fiji faces significant challenges in monitoring its maritime borders due to inadequate vessel tracking regulations, increasing the risk of the country being exploited as a transit point for drug and human trafficking. Currently, various boats, including yachts, can navigate Fiji’s waters without detection from local authorities.
The use of an automatic identification system (AIS), which was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to better track vessels, is not mandatory. It is estimated that between 700 and 800 yachts visit Fiji annually, making it difficult to monitor the extensive movements of small crafts throughout the country’s large exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The recent drug seizure in Nadi illustrates how organized crime can take advantage of Fiji’s limited resources to smuggle significant amounts of methamphetamine, valued in the billions. Earlier this year, authorities confiscated 4.15 tonnes of meth that had arrived in Fiji via yacht before being moved to Nadi by hired barge.
In the last five years, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has reported 47 instances of illicit drug detection at the border. Commodore Humphrey Tawake, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division, emphasized that the perception of only certain areas being high-risk for drug trafficking is misleading. He noted that criminals operate sophisticated networks similar to legitimate businesses.
As investigations into Fiji’s methamphetamine issue continue, authorities are focusing on the risks associated with the country’s maritime borders, the yachting industry, and the responsibility of local officials in monitoring visiting yachts to prevent illegal activities.
Yachts have a long history of being linked to drug smuggling. In 2018, authorities discovered over $10 million worth of cocaine and ecstasy on a yacht owned by an Australian couple at Port Denarau. The suspicious route taken by the yacht raised concerns among local officials.
There are reports of exploiting remote island communities, with accounts of young women being trafficked via yachts for exploitative purposes. Commodore Tawake expressed concern over the presence of vessels operating outside the typical yachting season, which runs from May to October.
Authorities have stepped up the inspection of vessels in Fiji’s waters, with border security officials conducting routine searches, sometimes leading to complaints from sailors regarding the invasive nature of these searches.
The FRCS requires foreign vessels to notify them of their arrival and obtain clearance through a specified port before entering Fijian waters. Visiting yachts must fill out a detailed declaration and seek authorization from multiple government agencies.
Community involvement is vital in monitoring suspicious activities, with marinas serving as key points for reporting. The FRCS operates a Coastal Watch Programme with local communities to help identify illegal activities. While the cruising permit system aids in surveillance, there is a call for increased law enforcement presence in these areas to foster reporting of suspicious behavior by community members.