Samoa and Tonga are included in plans by the New Zealand government to curb the flow of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine through the region.
Mermada Pacific News Service reports New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon raised the issue in Apia where both countries signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening efforts against the illegal drug trade.
Luxon described the Pacific Islands as a super highway for drugs moving from South America to New Zealand, warning that criminal groups are persistently targeting local communities.
Under the agreement, several New Zealand police officers will be deployed to Samoa, increasing the current presence there and in Tonga.
Authorities will also expand intelligence sharing and enhance surveillance capabilities to track and disrupt trafficking networks.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, who accompanied the Prime Minister on the trip said organized crime groups are exploiting Pacific Island nations as transit points to reach lucrative markets in New Zealand and Australia.
“Frequently we see drugs brought across the Pacific and attempts to corrupt those nations as well,” Chambers said.
“Our job is to work with Pacific partners to keep drugs out and corruption out.”
He noted that traffickers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including attaching drugs to vessels and transporting them by air rather than relying solely on traditional drop offs at sea.
Photo Samoa Govt
