Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji must rely on the superior technology and intelligence capabilities of its regional partners to win the fight against transnational crime.
The Prime Minister made the comments as Pacific leaders and law enforcement agencies gathered in Nadi this week for the 2026 Pacific Transnational Crime Summit.
“Some are better equipped than ours, so we have to tag on to their technology and try and work with them as they provide us information from further than our own intelligence gathering capacity can give us,” Rabuka said.
He said he expected the summit to provide a clear understanding of what each country could contribute and where existing gaps remained.
“My expectation is that we will have a clear understanding of the limitations of our resources, and what we can gain from cooperating with them as far as our areas of interest are concerned, and what we can do in our joint fight,” he said.
Rabuka said the region is increasingly being targeted by criminal networks involved in illicit drugs, cyber-enabled crime, human trafficking, illegal fishing and environmental offences.
He warned that some Pacific Island countries are moving beyond being transit routes for illicit drugs and are becoming destination markets.
“The Pacific is being increasingly used as a transit corridor to illicit narcotics, while growing evidence suggests that some Pacific island countries are now shifting from being transit points to being destination markets”
Rabuka said these threats are interconnected and no country can tackle them alone.
He said stronger intelligence sharing, improved maritime surveillance, modern legislation and greater cyber capabilities are needed to respond effectively.
Rabuka also stressed that regional security efforts should remain rooted in Pacific values, including trust, partnerships and community resilience.
“The success of the Summit will not ultimately be measured by the number of speeches delivered or communiqué issued. Its success will be measured by stronger regional cooperation, better intelligence sharing, more effective joint operations, stronger legislative and institutional frameworks, enhanced maritime security coordination, safer communities, reduced harm from organised crime, and renewed regional commitment to protecting our Blue Pacific”
The summit, co-hosted by the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police, has brought together senior law enforcement officers from across the Pacific, Five Eyes law enforcement agencies, INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division commander, Timoci Natuva, said timely intelligence sharing was critical to effective responses.
“For us, it’s the sharing of information in a timely manner, so we can respond,” Commodore Natuva said.
The summit comes as the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force launched a Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force operation, with Brigadier-General Manoa Gadai declaring there would be “no haven for criminals involved in the illicit drug trade”.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu called for a collective approach, saying Pacific nations must work together to address the root causes of transnational crime and develop workable solutions.
The summit also marks a key milestone under the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union, which identifies security — including intelligence sharing and maritime surveillance — as a core pillar of the strengthened partnership.
Held under the theme Connected by Ocean, United in the Fight, the summit focuses on building stronger regional partnerships to protect Pacific communities and security interests.
