REMARKS: SG Waqa at launch of 2024 UNODC TOCTA Report

Remarks and Speeches
11 October 2024

PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SG BARON WAQA 
REMARKS
at the
LAUNCHING OF THE 2024 UNODC TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME THREAT ASSESSMENT (TOCTA)
(Friday, 11 October 2024 – Grand Pacific Hotel, SUVA)

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Representatives of Pacific Law Enforcement Agencies,
Representatives of the United Nations Agencies,
Senior Officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is an honour for me to provide some remarks on the launching of the Pacific
Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment (TOCTA).

Transnational Organised Crime is an enduring threat to the Blue Pacific.
In the Pacific, Transnational Organised Crime undermines human and personal
security, democracy and the rule of law. It often exacerbates other threats being
experienced by our Pacific communities, as it diverts political attention,
resources, funds needed for development, basic services and infrastructure.

I have just returned from the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting
(SPDMM) in Auckland where Pacific Defence Ministers identified
Transnational Organised Crime as one of the top three security concerns.
We also have a representative in Palau at the moment, to discuss how the
region can strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness, recognising that
transnational crime is frequently facilitated through our vast maritime space.
These are among several multilateral initiatives within the Pacific region aimed
at addressing the scourge of transnational crime.

I thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the release of the
2024 Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment report which provides
Members with an additional tool to improve their awareness of the types of
transboundary crimes that occur within the region and helps them to better
direct their efforts at national and regional levels as appropriate.

It also complements other regional strategies and assessments by Pacific
regional security agencies.
PIFS sees a lot of similarities of the 2024 report with the 2022-2023 Pacific
Transnational Crime Coordination Centre’s Threat Assessment and the findings
from the regional Transnational Organised Disruption Strategy consultations
conducted between 2022-2023.
The worsening Transnational Organised Crime situation in the Pacific has been
exacerbated by the economic impacts of COVID-19, national demographic
changes, regional migration patterns, emergence of modern technologies,
corruption and of course climate change.

Large detection and seizures of illicit drugs continues, trends indicate rising
domestic drug use in Pacific Island Countries, new Psychoactive Substances
(NPS) have been detected, the sophistication of high-volume concealments
continues to evolve; and new technologies continues to facilitate transnational
crime in the Pacific.

What does this mean for us as a region?
It means that our law enforcement agencies are getting better at detecting
movement of illicit substances within the region. It also means that organised
criminal groups are evolving and using more sophisticated means and
technology to enhance their trafficking methods. In response, we must continue
and strengthen our collaborative and coordinated approaches to address
Transnational Organised Crime.

The Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment dovetails well with the
first ever PIF Regional Transnational Organised Crime Disruption Strategy,
which for the first time provides a regional definition of Transnational
organised Crime, framed around the UN recognised definition, but
contextualized to the Pacific.

The Strategy introduces a harm minimization approach to addressing TNOC for
some of our Members. This is an important shift as addressing Transnational
Organised Crime requires a whole of Government and society approach.
I urge Members to use our regional strategy, complemented by Transnational
Organised Crime Threat Assessment and other reports to help inform the types
of interventions needed at the national level.

RESOURCING remains the most significant issue to addressing Transnational
Organised Crime in the region.

I also urge Partners to ensure that resources are provided to support our
Members achieve their national Transnational Organised Crime priorities. We
have recognised regional law enforcement secretariats who have extensive
experience serving the region to lead the technical support provided to our
Members. These include, the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, the Pacific
Immigration Development Community and Oceania Customs Organisation to
name a few.

Before I conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to thank UNODC again for
this important report, and for your continued support to the Pacific Islands
Forum and our regional agencies to address Transnational Organised Crimes
and Corruption.

Tubwa kor, vinaka vakalevu and thank you for this opportunity.--ENDS

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