‘Shine A Light’: Loopholes in Maritime Surveillance

The challenge of policing Fiji’s porous maritime borders is compounded by the country’s weak ship-tracking regulations, making Fiji more vulnerable as a hub for drug and human trafficking.

Currently, vessels (yachts, boats) can pass through Fiji’s borders without being detected by local authorities.

It is not mandatory to have an Automatic Identification System (AIS) on board. This system was implemented in Fiji during COVID-19 to monitor the movement of vessels within Fiji’s maritime boundaries.

It is estimated that between 700 and 800 yachts visit Fiji each year.

The large-scale movement of yachts and small vessels entering and leaving Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the lack of resources to patrol thousands of kilometres of ocean poses a continuing challenge to our national border security.

The drug seizure in Nadi is a clear example of how criminal gangs, cartels and local mid-sized organisations can take advantage of our resource-starved state to use our marinas and ports to transship vast quantities of meth worth billions of dollars.

As we emphasized in our article Let a light shine column from last weekend: the 4.15 tonnes of meth seized in Nadi earlier this year came from abroad and was on a yacht that moored in Yasawa waters, from where it was transported by hired barge to a marina in Nadi.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has recorded 47 cases of illegal drug trafficking at the border in the past five years.

The Commander of the Marine Division of the Republic of Fiji Defence Forces, Commodore Humphrey Tawake, says the idea that scattered island groups are high-risk areas for drug trafficking is an understatement.

“We say that all of Fiji is the same and the same. These guys (criminals) are smarter than you think. These guys operate as a commercial company or commercial entity.

“If they do one here, they’ll do three up north,” said Commodore Tawake.

As we continue our investigation into Fiji’s methamphetamine problem, we are examining the risks surrounding our maritime borders, Fiji’s yachting sector and the role of local authorities in policing visiting yachts and protecting the border from illicit drug activity.

SAILING IN FIJI

Yachts and small vessels have long been suspected of smuggling drugs and other prohibited goods into the country.

In 2018, authorities found cocaine and ecstasy worth more than US$10 million (Swiss francs 22 million) aboard an Australian couple’s yacht in Port Denarau.

The yacht’s suspicious journey from the United States, via South America and French Polynesia to Nadi, was a major warning sign for local authorities.

In 2018, blocks of cocaine also washed up on several islands in the Lau Group.

Kalesi Volatabu, the founder of Drug Free World Fiji, said she knew of yachts exploiting local people on the outer islands.

“One of the stories we got from the Lomaiviti group last year when we did a workshop was that girls from the Lau group were being rounded up and then trafficked all over the islands,” she said.

“You’re talking about the yachts that go to the Lau Group, pick up girls there and use them for sex, parties and when they’re done they just drop them off again.” Many visiting yachts often sail around the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups, Savusavu and the Lau group, close to the marinas and service centres.

Commodore Tawake said the increasing presence of these vessels was a concern, especially as they were operating outside the hunting season from May to October.

Some sailors choose to stay outside this period and cruise, but that would be unusual and risky. A boat’s migration pattern can also raise suspicion.

Since most yachts come from Europe, the United States, Australia or New Zealand, their journey to Fiji could provide valuable information to authorities.

“If a yacht comes from South America to Fiji, it must have passed through French Polynesia. That information needs to be shared through the regional arrangements that we have,” Commodore Tawake said in an interview in July.

SEARCH VESSELS

Vessels may be searched at any time while in Fiji waters.

Several sailors, who asked not to be named, said large groups of border patrol officers have searched dozens of boats in recent weeks that had just checked in, as well as boats that had been in Fiji for a week.

They said it was a “routine” search and that authorities were not acting on a “suspicion.”

Cynthia Rasch, CEO of Port Denarau Marina, said the drills had increased over the years and could also be messy. Recently, authorities were criticised for the way they searched vessels in Savusavu, with some sailors calling the rumbling “intrusive” and “violent”.

One sailor claimed his boat had been damaged as a result and said he wanted compensation from the FRCS.

Another sailor, whose boat was searched along with at least a dozen others for two hours, said they felt as if a thief had gone through their belongings.

These complaints were filed following a large-scale joint search of a foreign-flagged vessel in Savusavu by the FRCS, Fiji Navy, Fiji Police and other partner agencies, which resulted in the seizure of undeclared alcohol, resulting in a fine of over FJ$6,500.

Acting Chief of Police (ACP) Operations Livai Driu said police warned ship owners that random checks would be carried out, and urged operators to comply with law enforcement and maritime laws in force. Viki Moore, director of the Island Cruising Pacific Rally, said it was disturbing to hear of the unpleasant experiences of some fellow sailors.

“We encourage all boats participating in the Pacific Rally to ensure they correctly declare all requested items on their Fiji entry forms and I am very pleased that Customs are carefully checking visiting vessels,” she said.

“But this must be done carefully to prevent them from getting damaged or items from disappearing from the boats.”

Ms Moore said she was concerned about the potential impact of the searches on the hunting industry, particularly in an area like Savusavu.

“Savusavu is trying to develop and grow yachting tourism with the new Nawi Marina there, which is great.

“I would hate for them to get a reputation as a place where ships are regularly stripped, searched and possibly damaged.

“But the only ones who should be worried are those who break the law.”

ARRIVAL IN FIJI

The FRCS requires foreign vessels visiting Fiji to give prior notice of their arrival and proceed to a FRCS-designated port of entry for official clearance before transiting through Fiji waters.

Yachts and small vessels must provide advance notification via a 13-page joint C2-C form and obtain approval from the FRCS, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Immigration before leaving their overseas port of departure.

On the C2-C form you list the supplies on board, the crew members, where they are coming from, where they are going and the expected duration of their stay in Fiji.

Once permission has been granted to enter Fiji, they must apply for permission and contact customs and other border control services at one of the many marinas in the country, including Suva, Port Denarau, Vuda, Copra Shed and Nawi Island.

“FRCS has a flagging system, and that’s green, yellow and red, and if those C2-C forms come up with too many red flags, then they focus on that and they do a full search, involving dogs and a lot of officers,” said Adam Wade, CEO and Managing Director of Vuda Marina.

JOINT SUPERVISION

The marinas play an important role in reporting suspicious and possibly illegal activities. All border security agencies often conduct joint sea and maritime searches and patrols.

FRCS implements a coast guard program and works closely with maritime communities and coastal villages to detect and report suspicious activities.

Boats that are allowed to enter Fiji’s sailing areas are issued a sailing permit by the iTaukei Affairs Board. It is another form of supervision.

“The cruise permit, which is a letter written in Fijian, says that a boat can enter the country and move freely through the waters of Fiji,” Wade said.

“When a yacht arrives (in a village) they can ask for a permit to sail, and if they don’t have one then that’s a bit of a warning sign and they contact the FRCS or the police.”

However, Commodore Tawake believes that law enforcement, including the Navy, should be more actively present in these places.

“We need to be more present in the communities on those islands to tell them to report suspicious activity.”

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