Pacific law enforcement agencies have launched a large-scale coordinated effort to tackle the growing threat of transnational organised crime after authorities seized 17 tonnes of illicit drugs across the region since January, with cocaine making up the majority of the haul.
The initiative was officially announced during the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit in Fiji, jointly hosted by the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The summit brought together senior police officials from Pacific nations, Five Eyes partners, and international law enforcement agencies.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said drug trafficking in the Pacific had reached an alarming level, with criminal organisations increasingly using the region as both a transit route and a developing market.
“While most drugs continue to be trafficked to Australia, organised crime groups are now directly targeting Pacific nations as emerging markets,” Barrett said.
She added that Australia’s demand for illegal drugs was placing increasing pressure on Pacific countries and highlighted the need for stronger regional cooperation to combat criminal networks.
Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu described the summit as a united Pacific-led response to the rise of transnational crime, stressing that cooperation was crucial in addressing the growing challenge.
“The region is fighting back, and coordinated action is necessary to reduce both supply and its harmful impacts,” he said. The summit, taking place from May 18–21, 2026, includes representatives from INTERPOL, US Homeland Security Investigations, European maritime narcotics agencies, and law enforcement authorities from Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, and several Pacific Island nations.
Authorities also announced the formation of an International Joint Investigations Team based in Colombia. Supported by the AFP, New Zealand Police, Australian Border Force, and NZ Customs, the team aims to disrupt cocaine trafficking networks at their source. Officials said the initiative responds to increasingly advanced smuggling techniques, including the use of semi-submersible vessels for transporting large quantities of cocaine across the Pacific.
Authorities reported that drug seizures have already reached 17 tonnes this year, a significant increase compared with 4.6 tonnes recorded during the entire 2025 calendar year.
Law enforcement agencies warned that the sharp rise reflects both stronger enforcement efforts and a growing threat posed by powerful drug syndicates adapting to international pressure.
The summit is expected to conclude with a Pacific-wide awareness campaign encouraging communities to report suspicious maritime activity to authorities as part of a broader strategy to strengthen intelligence gathering and combat organised crime.