A researcher from the Australian National University (ANU) has warned that while Vanuatu is not currently a major hub for Pacific drug trafficking, the country is becoming increasingly exposed to the growing reach of transnational organised crime networks operating across the region.
Henrietta McNeill-Stowers from the Department of Pacific Affairs at ANU said criminal groups are adapting their methods and using increasingly sophisticated ways to move illicit drugs through Pacific waters, including fishing vessels, private yachts and semi-submersible vessels known as “narco-subs”.
She said the seizure of 1.6 tonnes of cocaine at Havannah Harbour earlier this year highlights the growing vulnerability of Pacific island countries to international drug trafficking routes.
Speaking on regional security challenges at the inaugural National Security Summit last week, McNeill-Stowers said the Pacific’s vast maritime space makes it difficult for authorities alone to monitor and prevent illegal activities, requiring stronger cooperation between governments, law enforcement agencies and communities.
She said local communities have an important role in identifying and reporting suspicious activities, as fishermen, village leaders and community police are often the first to notice unusual movements at sea or within communities.
McNeill-Stowers warned that criminal networks are also using local people by leaving drugs behind as payment for assistance, creating risks of increased drug availability, addiction and the development of local markets in Pacific communities.
She called for greater regional intelligence sharing, stronger legal frameworks and increased investment in public awareness, education, rehabilitation and treatment programmes to address both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem.
The researcher said tackling the issue requires a coordinated Pacific-wide response, as organised crime groups do not operate within national borders and continue to exploit gaps between countries’ enforcement systems.
McNeill-Stowers is a Research Fellow specialising in Pacific Security, Geopolitics and Regionalism at the Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU.
Her research focuses on regional security issues across the Pacific, including the links between security and migration, transnational crime, criminal deportations, border management, citizenship and regional security cooperation.
