Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to fighting organized crime in collaboration with Fiji. This pledge was prominently featured during her announcement that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Fiji Police Force will co-host a vital Organised Crime Summit in May 2026.
In a press briefing in Suva, Commissioner Barrett expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating, “There is no other place that I would rather be today than to stand side by side with you to announce the AFP and Fiji Police Force will co-host an organised crime summit in May next year.” The summit is anticipated to be a crucial opportunity to strengthen collaborative efforts against organized crime, which poses significant threats to societal values and national sovereignty.
Barrett highlighted the sophisticated networks of criminal organizations operating in the region calling for a collective response. “These well-funded and entrenched criminal cartels and gangs require a strong, united Pacific bloc to identify, target, and disrupt their illicit operating model,” she asserted. She emphasized the importance of proactive measures for community safety, stating, “Showing up when needed — that is what family does, and that is what our two police forces do for each other every day.”
The upcoming summit aims to further enhance the already effective collaboration between Fiji, Australia, and their Pacific partners. Commissioner Barrett remarked, “Fiji and Australia, with our Pacific partners, will fight to keep our region safe, and we are already doing this together and with great success. The summit is another example of how we are taking action together.”
The agenda for the summit is set to cover a range of critical Pacific-specific organized crime issues, including illicit commodities, money laundering, cybercrime, foreign interference, environmental crime, and illegal fishing and logging. Law enforcement leaders from across the region, along with representatives from the Five Eyes alliance and international organizations such as INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, will also participate.
Commissioner Barrett concluded her statements with a commitment to utilizing advanced intelligence and technology to bolster community safety in Fiji, Australia, and the wider Pacific region. Addressing the pressing need to combat organized crime, she expressed pride in collaborating with a partner dedicated to overcoming these challenges.
This upcoming summit signals a hopeful advancement in the unified approach to tackling organized crime, demonstrating a strong commitment to regional safety and collaborative initiatives that can lead to more secure and resilient communities across the Pacific.