Page 12 - IB March 2018 Edition

Cover Story

The Big Threat IB: And not necessarily drugs any-

more? Money laundering?
Paeniu: Yes. Money-laundering
The money-laundering activities involve
Organised crime creeps into the region the purchase of real estate including resi-
dential dwellings, apartments and farms.
Owning legitimate businesses in the Pa-
cific allows criminal organisations to pass
made dozens of arrests, ostensibly of the illegally earned money through these
cyber-criminals working in Fiji for Asian investments to “clean” the cash.
syndicates. Australian gangs already control and
While many of the arrests were linked own suburbs in Thailand including casi-
to credit card fraud and skimming – steal- nos, bars, strip joints and real estate.
ing information from legitimate cards and
By Netani Rika using this to make purchases or withdraw- The Australian Criminal Intelligence
als – there was an element of prostitution Commission recently estimated that
A NEW crime wave looms over the region involved. organised crime costs AUD36 billion
– this time on the back of motorbikes. The new wave of criminal activities, (US$27b) annually with frauds perpe-
As Australia and New Zealand crack however, comes from next door in Aus- trated against government bodies being
down on the illicit trading activities of tralia and New Zealand. the primary concern in 2017.
Outlawed Motorcycle Gangs, these crimi- “There’s also organised motorcycle And that is without the involve-
nal groups have sought new targets and gangs now coming into the Pacific – we’ve ment of the Outlaw Motorcycle
found them in the world’s soft underbelly. seen signs of that,” Paeniu said. Gangs.
With porous maritime borders which Paeniu said the battle against
stretch for miles and few assets to patrol IB: Any country in particular? transnational organised crime
the sea, the Pacific is wide open for illegal Paeniu: Across. was vast and required a joint ef-
business. fort by customs and law enforce-
Law enforcement agencies have battle IB: Across? ment authorities.
for years will illegal transnational activities Paeniu: Well, apart from the tiny little “Therefore, the need to
at sea, says Oceania Customs Organisation ones we’ve seen clear evidence of it
Chief Executive Officer, Seve Paeniu. really creeping into the region.
“We have maritime issues not only with
illegal fishing but transfer on the high sea IB: Motorcycle gangs in Aus-
(of fuel and other supplies), all those illicit tralia are involved in illegal
activities through the waters (open seas),” activities like drugs. So
Paeniu said. they’re moving into the
In the early 1990s police uncovered region?
the transfer of contraband cigarettes to Paeniu: Five or six gangs are now based
Chinese fishing ships on the high seas for in Fiji and the Cook Islands has a lot more
transportation to Fiji for sale. than Fiji and it’s spreading across the Pa-
Unable to hit the offending vessels at cific now. Outlaw motorcycle gangs, that’s
sea, police used tax evasion laws to crack- the terminology we use for it. And there’s
down on shops and market stalls selling a whole lot of illicit activities they bring.
the cigarettes.
With its porous borders, need for for-
eign investment and weak law enforce-
ment agencies, the Pacific fits the profile
for transnational criminals dealing with
drugs, arms smuggling, human trafficking
and money laundering. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA -
There is an increasing threat now in the AUGUST 16: Hells Angels bikies
region in terms of illegal trade – especially leave after the funeral for
transnational organised crime Melbourne crime figure
“Drug trafficking of course is at the top Macchour Chaouk at
of that list,” Paeniu said. Preston Mosque on August
“But increasingly there are other forms 16, 2010 in Melbourne, Aus-
of transnational organised crimes – money tralia. 61-year old Chaouk
laundering, financial crimes, ATM card was gunned down in the
skimming are just a few examples.” backyard of his Melbourne
Last year Chinese police with the as- home.
sistance of their Fijian counterparts Photo: News Central

12 Islands Business, March 2018