By Nic Maclellan
Last month Tongan police confirmed that more than 14 kilograms of cocaine had washed up on beaches in Vava’u. Police say the drugs have an estimated sale value of over $5 million pa’anga and more than 10 people have been arrested in connection with the matter.It is this kind of activity that has seen police forces across the Pacific increase their co-operation against transboundary criminal activity over the past two decades– from the smuggling of drugs, guns and counterfeit goods to money laundering and people trafficking.
Since 2002, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New Zealand Police and US intelligence and police services have built a Pacific Transnational Crime . . .
