Criminal networks exploit Pacific transit routes
The Pacific's vast maritime environment and strategic location between source and destination markets make it an attractive transit corridor for serious and organised crime. Criminal networks exploit commercial shipping routes, remote maritime areas and jurisdictional boundaries to move illicit drugs towards lucrative markets, including Australia and New Zealand.
While Pacific nations are not major destination markets, they increasingly face the consequences of drug trafficking as serious and organised crime groups seek to move commodities through the region. The impacts can extend beyond border security challenges to include drug-related harm, criminal infiltration and increased pressure on law enforcement and community services.
The transit point becomes part of the market
Historically, serious and organised crime groups viewed many Pacific countries primarily as staging points for illicit drug movements. However, experience across the region demonstrates that the effects of trafficking do not remain confined to transit routes.
As illicit drugs move through the Pacific, some inevitably enter local markets, contributing to community harm and creating opportunities for criminal networks to establish local footholds for both drugs and other commodities. Illicit drugs are causing widespread harm across the Pacific, driving addiction, mental health issues, and rising rates of communicable diseases as a result of intravenous drug use. The consequences extend beyond individuals, straining limited government services, increasing rates of violence and crime, and undermining the social and community structures that are central to Pacific societies. This highlights the importance of understanding both the movement of illicit commodities and their broader impacts on Pacific communities.
Intelligence-led responses through regional partnerships
ACIC acting Executive Director Mission Coordination and Analysis, Wendy Darling, shares that addressing illicit drug threats across the Pacific requires strong regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and evidence-based approaches.
“Together, these efforts help build a more comprehensive understanding of emerging threats and support coordinated responses across borders.
“The ACIC works closely with regional and international partners to strengthen collective awareness of serious and organised crime threats and support informed decision-making.
“Through intelligence collaboration and data-driven initiatives, partners can identify trends, assess risks and better direct resources where they are most needed.”
She also shared that our commitment extends beyond intelligence sharing.
“Working alongside our counterparts, ACIC officers have supported the development of intelligence collection and analytical capabilities while contributing to joint efforts with Australian partner agencies, including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre and Australian Border Force.”
These intelligence efforts complement wider Australian Government activities to support Pacific-led responses to transnational and organised crime, helping regional partners strengthen collective security, and disrupt illicit drug trafficking networks. This includes the recent $600 million package of support to the Waqa Moana Pacific-led maritime security initiative which will help counter illicit drug trafficking.
Pacific wastewater initiative
We are working with partners to support the development and delivery of Fiji's wastewater drug monitoring program, helping strengthen the intelligence picture of emerging drug threats and their impacts across the region.
Launched in December 2025, the initiative is a collaboration between the Fiji Police Force, the ACIC, The University of Queensland and the University of the South Pacific.
Modelled on Australia's internationally recognised wastewater drug monitoring program, the initiative provides objective data on drug consumption trends, and will help identify emerging threats and inform evidence-based policy and operational responses. By strengthening regional intelligence and providing a clearer picture of drug-related harm, the program supports Fiji and Australia in building a more coordinated response to illicit drugs moving through the Pacific.
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