Fiji’s Criminal Underbelly: A Growing Concern

Criminal activity is rampant across the islands, with remote and densely populated areas alike falling prey to illegal activities. Foreign criminal actors, particularly Chinese organized crime groups, are heavily involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, cybercrime, and human trafficking.

Leadership and Governance

Fiji’s political leadership is mired in controversy, with allegations of human rights abuses and interference with opposition activities. The integrity of the administration is often questioned, and corruption is widespread. The anti-corruption agency is limited in its effectiveness, and high-profile cases rarely result in successful prosecutions.

Despite these challenges, Fiji has shown commitment to international cooperation on organized crime and has signed several agreements aimed at combating transnational criminal networks.

Criminal Justice and Security

Fiji’s constitution guarantees an independent judiciary, but political interference continues. The country’s prisons are overcrowded, with inadequate infrastructure and services. Abuse of inmates is a serious concern, and police corruption is rampant.

• The Fiji Police Force is under-resourced
• Human trafficking cases are often not handled due to inactivity of the Human Trafficking Taskforce
• Police officers and military officials who commit abuses are rarely brought to justice

Economic and Financial Environment

Fiji has made progress in addressing anti-money laundering deficiencies, but the country remains vulnerable to this crime. The financial and real estate sectors are susceptible to money laundering, with hundreds of millions of Fijian dollars believed to be laundered through financial institutions each year.

• The government has secured funding from multilateral and bilateral development partners to finance policy reforms aimed at addressing economic challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Civil Society and Social Protection

Victims of crime in Fiji lack adequate assistance, despite the creation of units aimed at providing support and assistance. The government has identified more victims of human trafficking in recent years but has not provided services to any of them.

• Public awareness campaigns have been carried out to combat human trafficking and drug use
• Low public awareness remains a significant challenge

Conclusion

Fiji’s criminal underworld is a growing concern, with foreign organized crime groups exerting significant influence over the country’s illegal activities. The Fijian government faces numerous challenges in combating this issue, including corruption and political instability.

Efforts to address these concerns are underway, including public awareness campaigns and international cooperation agreements. However, more needs to be done to combat criminal activity and protect victims of crime in Fiji.