Our Border Team Attends Vessel Search Training

Recently, our border officers in collaboration with the teams from the Fiji Police Force, Republic of Fiji, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), Fiji Immigration Department, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) and the Cakaudrove Provincial Council engaged in a two-week coastal watch awareness program with 15 villages from the province of Tunuloa, Navatu, Vaturova, Kia and Saqani in Vanua Levu.

The comprehensive two-week coastal watch outreach program was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan.

FRCS launched the Coast Watch Program in conjunction with maritime communities to increase awareness and reach on border security in maritime coastal communities.

Surveillance in coastal communities and seas is an ongoing challenge for FRCS and with the Coast Watch Program, FRCS aimed to partner with the coastal villages to assist us to monitor and report illegal or suspicious activities along sea and shorelines.

During the outreach, the team conducted awareness on various issues including the roles and responsibilities of the border agencies, yacht clearance and international border process, social impact of hard drugs, law and penalty applicable to possession of illicit drugs and practical solution to resolving hard drugs usage and issues in our communities.  

Fiji’s vast and porous maritime borders and limited enforcement capabilities makes it vulnerable to drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. The Coast Watch Program requires the law enforcement agencies to conduct targeted awareness to maritime villages. This collaboration aims to foster a proactive approach in addressing border related issues in vulnerable areas accessible only to the maritime communities, enhance our enforcement capabilities and strengthen our partnership with these communities.

FRCS greatly appreciates the coordination and support provided by the Cakaudrove Provincial Office in ensuring that our teams achieved its set objective of border security awareness as scheduled.

All Fijians have a responsibility to help Fiji grow and report any illegal/criminal activities at our borders.

Last Updated - September 6, 2024