Transnational Crime Unit – Solomon Islands

Transnational Crime Unit – Solomon Islands

Introduction

Over the last decade, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has increased its co-operation with police forces in neighbouring countries, with a specific focus on challenging transboundary criminal activity (eg smuggling of drugs and guns, money laundering etc). The AFP has built a network involving member states of the Pacific Islands Forum, establishing Transnational Crime Units with a Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre (PTCCC) in Suva, Fiji.

Government sources

Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre opens in Suva, AFP Media release, Tuesday, 15 June 2004

“The Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) opens in Suva today as part of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the South Pacific Police Commissioners’ commitment to combating transnational crime in the Pacific region…The PTCCC will become the hub of the Pacific Transnational Crime Unit Network and will manage and coordinate law enforcement intelligence provided by the Network and regional law enforcement agencies.

“A multi-agency team has been drawn from the Pacific Transnational Crime Unit Network with the inaugural Team Leader, Inspector Alanrow Banmatakaui, an experienced law enforcement intelligence officer from the Vanuatu Police Force. Since 2002, the AFP, through its Law Enforcement Cooperation Program, has established Transnational Crime Unit’s in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The Solomon Islands is expected to follow in 2005.”

Security Environment Update, Attorney General’s Department, 8 May 2007

“The AFP is currently working with Solomon Islands counterparts to establish a Solomon Islands Transnational Crime Unit and over the past year has assisted Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea and Micronesia to establish Transnational Crime Units within their police forces.”

See also:

Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre