THE Pacific region is strengthening police cooperation to tackle transnational crime through joint initiatives and shared resources.
Fiji Police Force Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu highlighted ongoing support from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), noting that 25 Fiji Police officers have been trained in key disciplines since September 2025.
“Training covered investigations, leadership, prosecution, operations, and forensics to boost Fiji’s policing capacity.
“The renewed Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year underpins intelligence sharing and operational collaboration.
“The AFP’s commitment is shown by maintaining officers in the Australian High Commission to support joint efforts, and this aims to address the Pacific’s unique security challenges posed by vast oceanic areas and limited resources.”
The joint press conference follows a series of social media posts which claim Fijian police officers are involved in the protection of drug dealers
.Tudravu addressed ongoing investigations into alleged police involvement in narcotics crime linked to social media posts.
“AFP assists Fiji Police in tracing the source of incriminating Viber messages purportedly implicating officers,’’ he said.
“An official witness in Sydney is cooperating by providing statements to support the inquiry.”
He emphasised that no evidence currently supports suspensions, underscoring the need for patience and due process.
“The investigation aims to uncover the money trail and criminal connections behind the messages,” he said.
Tudravu recognised the emotional toll on police officers from public allegations and emphasised the need for evidence-based actions.
He warned against premature judgments from social media claims to protect police morale and integrity, prioritising thorough investigations over reactive measures to maintain force stability.
“This approach balances transparency with organisational cohesion during sensitive inquiries.”
2026 Crime Summit
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced a co-hosted Organised Crime Summit in Fiji for May next year to unify Pacific law enforcement.
“The summit will target crime, including illicit commodities, money laundering, cybercrime, foreign interference, environmental crime, illegal fishing, and logging.
“It will gather Pacific police chiefs, Five Eyes law enforcement, Interpol, and UN agencies to share intelligence and technologies.
“This event reflects a strategic shift toward collective regional action to disrupt entrenched criminal networks undermining sovereignty.”
She emphasised the summit as a key step to protect communities in Fiji, Australia, and the broader Pacific.
The region faces growing organised crime threats requiring coordinated intelligence and operational responses.
Barrett stressed the cross-border nature of transnational crime affecting Fiji, Australia, and the Pacific, reinforcing the need for a unified response and information sharing.
“The Pacific Policing Initiative enhances capability sharing and focused targeting of evolving threats, and Intelligence exchange underpins efforts to understand and disrupt criminal networks impacting multiple countries.
She framed cooperation as essential, given the interconnectedness of crime across the Pacific region.
“These initiatives are designed to strengthen collective resilience against organised crime.
Fiji Police and AFP maintain active monitoring and response protocols to manage emerging threats and personnel risks.
Collaborative monitoring is in place for known gang members and deportees to ensure operational readiness across jurisdictions.
Joint watch lists track individuals engaged in drug-related crimes abroad, with alerts for arrival in Fiji.
“Fiji Police maintain close communication with AFP to respond quickly to the movements of persons of interest, and this coordination supports the containment of criminal influence and mitigates the risk of gang activity resurgence in the region,” she added.
Strong leadership and partnership are central to advancing Pacific security and policing transformation.
Barrett praised the Fiji Police leadership for its courage and vision in confronting organised crime.
“The partnership is framed as a family-like commitment, ensuring mutual support in safeguarding the region, and his leadership alignment underpins strategic initiatives like the upcoming summit and ongoing operational cooperation.”