UNODC Training

More than one hundred law enforcement officials from Fiji and Tonga have completed a three day UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) virtual training on Investigation of Maritime Crime including Drug Trafficking cases.

The participants joined in from 10 differently zoom stations around the country included officers from the Fiji Police and Tonga Police Republic of Fiji Navy and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.

The UNODC training is part of the Global Maritime Crime Programme supporting member states to strengthen regional cooperation, capacity building and the induction of technology to counter maritime crime.

Topics covered included on scene investigations, evidence collection, challenges in maritime investigations, international law vs national law, unnatural death, drugs, illegal fishing, sea/robbery, piracy, wild- life and protected species.

The virtual training was facilitated by Mr Raja Sekaran, a former senior member of the Singapore Police with over 25-years of operational knowledge and experience in Maritime Policing Operations, Command Centre Operations and Cybersecurity Operations.

Having been trained also by the Singapore Navy before taking command of a Police Coastal Patrol Craft that patrolled Singapore Waters and beyond, Mr Sekaran also stressed on the importance of utilizing technology in countering maritime crime.

“Technology is going to be here and we must embrace technology”.

“Digital transformation needs to be adopted in your everyday operations due to the complex nature of maritime crime”.

The Fiji Police Force has acknowledged the ongoing support of the UNODC as important training partners.