NZ Strengthens Pacific Crime-Fighting Partnerships as Casey Costello Visits Samoa and Fiji

New Zealand Customs and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has embarked on an important Pacific mission to Samoa and Fiji aimed at strengthening regional cooperation against transnational organised crime and enhancing Pacific security partnerships.

The visit highlights New Zealand’s growing commitment to working closely with Pacific nations to address shared security challenges, including drug trafficking, cybercrime, human smuggling, money laundering, and other forms of organised criminal activity that increasingly affect island nations across the region.

As part of her official programme, Ms Costello is visiting Samoa before travelling to Fiji to attend the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit Ministerial Meeting, a major regional gathering jointly hosted by Fiji and Australia.

The summit is regarded as one of the Pacific region’s most significant law enforcement and security meetings, bringing together Ministers responsible for policing and border security from more than 15 countries. The event focuses on strengthening regional coordination, intelligence sharing, and collaborative enforcement strategies to combat increasingly sophisticated criminal networks operating across Pacific borders.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Ms Costello emphasised the importance of Pacific unity in addressing organised crime threats.

She said transnational crime continues to evolve rapidly and no single nation can effectively tackle these issues alone. According to the Minister, stronger partnerships between Pacific governments are essential to protecting communities, securing borders, and improving regional resilience.

“Jointly hosted by Fiji and Australia, this is the only meeting of combined Pacific Police Ministers,” Ms Costello said.

“It will bring together Pacific Ministers responsible for policing to strengthen regional cooperation and drive coordinated responses to transnational crime affecting the Pacific.”

The Minister said New Zealand values its long-standing relationships with Pacific neighbours and sees regional security cooperation as critical to both Pacific stability and New Zealand’s domestic safety.

“More than 15 countries are attending and the Summit is an important opportunity for New Zealand to strengthen partnerships that support the Pacific’s resilience and are critical to our own efforts to prevent the harm from organised crime,” she said.

While in Samoa, Ms Costello is holding bilateral discussions with Samoan Customs Minister Masinalupe Leatuavao Makesi Pisi. The talks are expected to focus on border protection, customs cooperation, maritime monitoring, and strengthening operational partnerships between the two countries.

The Minister’s Samoa visit also includes several operational visits designed to showcase frontline regional crime prevention efforts. She is scheduled to tour the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre in Apia, which plays a central role in intelligence coordination and regional law enforcement collaboration throughout the Pacific.

In addition, Ms Costello will visit Apia Port to observe customs and border operations and meet with officers involved in cargo inspections and maritime security.

Another key stop on the visit is the Samoan detector dog unit, which assists authorities in detecting illegal drugs, prohibited goods, weapons, and other contraband entering the country. Detector dog programmes are increasingly recognised across the Pacific as an effective tool in strengthening border enforcement capabilities.

The Pacific region has faced growing challenges in recent years from international criminal syndicates using remote maritime routes and vulnerable border systems to traffic narcotics and illicit goods. Governments across the Pacific have responded by increasing intelligence sharing, strengthening customs operations, and expanding regional policing partnerships.

New Zealand has been actively supporting these efforts through training, operational assistance, technology sharing, and collaborative policing initiatives with Pacific partners.

Security experts say regional cooperation meetings such as the Pacific Transnational Crime Summit are becoming increasingly important as criminal organisations expand their activities across borders and exploit weaknesses in isolated jurisdictions.

The summit is also expected to address emerging threats such as cyber-enabled crime, financial fraud, illegal fishing operations, and the growing influence of international criminal networks in Pacific communities.

Ms Costello’s visit reflects New Zealand’s broader Pacific engagement strategy, which prioritises stronger diplomatic ties, enhanced regional security cooperation, and long-term support for Pacific resilience and stability.