Samoa Police’s Deputy Commissioner Lafaitele Herbert Aati High was among high ranking police officers from 20 different countries across the Pacific who met in Brisbane Australia to find the best ways to counter emerging threats facing the Pacific region.

Lafaitele attended the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) Team Leaders conference along with Inspector Lopati Peniata.

The theme of this year’s conference was "Enhancing partnerships to strike transnational crime in the Pacific"

Deputy Commissioner Lafaitele reminded advisors and team leaders of their role and responsibility and challenged them to play their part in ensuring that the Blue Pacific is protected from Transnational Crime .

He further emphasised that partnership increases the capacity and strengthens bonds in the region.

According to a report on transnational crime in the region Jose Sousa-Santos, the Pacific has become a lucrative drug corridor, driven by cartels, criminal organisations, and local gangs. Regional states and traditional partners must act rapidly and adaptively in response.

The key findings of this report are that the Pacific “drug highway” has spilled over into domestic markets for illicit drug consumption and production in the Pacific Islands region. Drug trafficking has evolved significantly with the rise of local actors in transnational criminal networks.

The report stated that capacity shortfalls and a disconnect between regional law enforcement infrastructure and national law enforcement agencies undermine trust and are detrimental to intelligence sharing and interoperability in cross-border policing efforts.

The report also stated that the deportation policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are exacerbating crime and addiction within Pacific nations. They undermine the policy objectives of development partners in the region and will need urgent review.

“Transnational crime in the Pacific represents a microcosm of a wider global trend. Cited as one of six key global security challenges in the United Nations Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change, transnational crime erodes human security and undermines the rule of law within and across borders,” said the report.

“In a region plagued by “unmet development challenges”, transnational crime and illicit drugs are a cross-cutting threat to development, security, and governance in the Pacific.”

The impact of transnational crime has also impacted on Samoa as police have said that there is an increase in the use of meth in the country.

According to Lafaitele, the conference was a success and it allowed for countries to share their strengths and weaknesses and discuss how each member country can assist each other moving forward.

He said it was a timely reminder that the safety of the Blue Pacific requires a regional approach and working together for a safe Blue Pacific.