A significant Organized Crime Summit is scheduled for May next year, aimed at addressing various forms of crime, including the trafficking of illicit commodities, money laundering, cybercrime, and environmental offenses like illegal fishing and logging. The summit will be co-hosted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Fiji Police Force, marking an important step in enhancing efforts to combat organized criminal networks that pose threats to communities and regional sovereignty.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett emphasized the necessity of a more united approach to tackling the rising influence of well-funded criminal cartels targeting Pacific nations. She stated, “We will use this summit to make our communities in Fiji, Australia, and the Pacific region safer by leveraging the latest intelligence, world-leading capability, and technology.”
Alongside Barrett, Fiji’s Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu called for a collective strategy to protect communities throughout the Pacific. He affirmed, “Our approach must be a collective one, that is, by the Pacific, for the Pacific. And that’s the only way. As people of the Pacific, we understand our challenges and therefore we must come together to talk and really get to the root causes of these crimes and find workable solutions that have tangible outcomes.”
Tudravu acknowledged the critical role of the AFP in the fight against transnational crime, highlighting the increased demand for illicit commodities and the Pacific’s position as a vulnerable gateway for criminal syndicates.
This summit represents a hopeful initiative for enhanced collaboration and informed strategies within the Pacific region, as nations unite to confront the complexities of organized crime. The commitment from both the Australian and Fijian authorities illustrates a proactive stance toward safeguarding communities and promoting regional stability.
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