Maritime Policing Operations Training

Fijian and Regional Police, Navy and Customs law enforcement officers have successfully completed a specialize training focused on Maritime Policing Operations facilitated by the UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) and the NCIS - Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

The virtual training was conducted last year and focused on maritime crime, management, evidence/chain of custody and other critical elements that relate to investigation of maritime cases.

The UNODC National Programme Officer (Maritime Crime) Kalusiani Vuki said the training was an outcome of a request made by the Fiji Police Force.

Mr Vuki said the GMCP’s decision to work with the Fiji Police and law enforcement partners in enhancing capacity of maritime investigations were aligned to Sustainable Development Goals 14, 16 and 17.

In closing the training, the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho who is also the current Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) said, “The saying “there is strength in numbers” appropriately sums up our collective efforts in making “Our Blue Pacific Safer Together” - through trainings such as this, aimed at strengthening law enforcement capabilities and countering criminal activity in the region”.

With a number of regional Police and Customs law enforcement officers also part of the training, Brig-Gen Qiliho said, “Fiji is ready to host our regional partners if the opportunity presents itself again, as we believe that we will be more resilient and be able to respond to these threats effectively by bringing regional law enforcement representatives together to share knowledge and experiences’.

One hundred Fijian Police Officers, 9 officers from the Republic of Fiji Navy, 6 officers from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and officers from Regional law enforcement agencies were part of the training.