Pacific News In Brief For 20 June 2025
New Caledonia - cocaine
The French Directorate General of Customs says 67 kilograms of cocaine has been seized in New Caledonia between April and May this year.
Local media reported the operation resulted in the discovery of more than 500 kilograms of narcotics at various ports across the region.
New Caledonia and French Polynesia Customs took part in a joint operation with the Australian Border Force, New Zealand Customs, the US Homeland Security Investigations and Jamaica.
At the end of March this year, 142 kilograms of cocaine was seized in French Polynesia.
It was found packed in insulation panels of a refrigerated container bound for Australia.
Fiji - domestic violence
Fiji police have reported 105 cases of family violence against women and children for May 2025.
More than 200 women had crimes committed against them - 11 percent of these were sexual offences and 89 percent were assault-related.
Seventy-two of those crimes were from a spouse or partner.
One hundred and 14 children had crimes done against them and more than two-thirds of those were sexual offences.
Five police officers were charged with offences during the month - including one facing charges of unlawful supply and import of illicit drugs.
Police said there was a 14 per cent reduction in overall crime which is ahead of its 10 per cent target.
Fiji - election workers
The Fijian Elections Office says FJ$44,000 - about US$20,000 - in temporary worker payments from the 2018 General Election remain unpaid.
FBC reported this has come to light during the Public Accounts Committee submission on the election office's 2021-2022 Audit Report.
The election office's financial controller said the delay was caused by incomplete employee information for some of the 12,000 temporary election workers.
The office said they are closely coordinating with the Fiji National Provident Fund to verify the remaining employee data to fast-track this process.
Papua New Guinea - mining
The mining company New Porgera is celebrating achieving its production targets, despite the impact of continuing lawlessness and a devastating landslide in the region.
The new company, run by Barrick Gold, but with a significant PNG Government shareholding, replaced the former company after a lease dispute shut it down for more than three years.
The Porgera region of Enga Province experienced the devastating Mulitaka landslide, which claimed many lives and shut the main road link out of the district.
There have also been extensive law and order issues that resulted in a state of emergency being implemented, and dozens of arrests being made, many for illegal mining within the mine pit.
Papua New Guinea - prisons
The Papua New Guinea Correctional Service has signed an agreement with the Department of Education which will see education and training programmes rolled out in jails across the country.
NBC reported that the memorandum highlights the vital role education plays in restoring dignity, instilling hope, and creating opportunities for those seeking a second chance.
The rollout of structured learning and skills training within prisons is expected to transform lives behind bars.
Acting corrections commissioner Bernard Nepo called the initiative a lifeline for inmates.
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Scoop
11 hours ago
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Pacific News In Brief For 20 June 2025
New Caledonia - cocaine The French Directorate General of Customs says 67 kilograms of cocaine has been seized in New Caledonia between April and May this year. Local media reported the operation resulted in the discovery of more than 500 kilograms of narcotics at various ports across the region. New Caledonia and French Polynesia Customs took part in a joint operation with the Australian Border Force, New Zealand Customs, the US Homeland Security Investigations and Jamaica. At the end of March this year, 142 kilograms of cocaine was seized in French Polynesia. It was found packed in insulation panels of a refrigerated container bound for Australia. Fiji - domestic violence Fiji police have reported 105 cases of family violence against women and children for May 2025. More than 200 women had crimes committed against them - 11 percent of these were sexual offences and 89 percent were assault-related. Seventy-two of those crimes were from a spouse or partner. One hundred and 14 children had crimes done against them and more than two-thirds of those were sexual offences. Five police officers were charged with offences during the month - including one facing charges of unlawful supply and import of illicit drugs. Police said there was a 14 per cent reduction in overall crime which is ahead of its 10 per cent target. Fiji - election workers The Fijian Elections Office says FJ$44,000 - about US$20,000 - in temporary worker payments from the 2018 General Election remain unpaid. FBC reported this has come to light during the Public Accounts Committee submission on the election office's 2021-2022 Audit Report. The election office's financial controller said the delay was caused by incomplete employee information for some of the 12,000 temporary election workers. The office said they are closely coordinating with the Fiji National Provident Fund to verify the remaining employee data to fast-track this process. Papua New Guinea - mining The mining company New Porgera is celebrating achieving its production targets, despite the impact of continuing lawlessness and a devastating landslide in the region. The new company, run by Barrick Gold, but with a significant PNG Government shareholding, replaced the former company after a lease dispute shut it down for more than three years. The Porgera region of Enga Province experienced the devastating Mulitaka landslide, which claimed many lives and shut the main road link out of the district. There have also been extensive law and order issues that resulted in a state of emergency being implemented, and dozens of arrests being made, many for illegal mining within the mine pit. Papua New Guinea - prisons The Papua New Guinea Correctional Service has signed an agreement with the Department of Education which will see education and training programmes rolled out in jails across the country. NBC reported that the memorandum highlights the vital role education plays in restoring dignity, instilling hope, and creating opportunities for those seeking a second chance. The rollout of structured learning and skills training within prisons is expected to transform lives behind bars. Acting corrections commissioner Bernard Nepo called the initiative a lifeline for inmates.
1News
2 days ago
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New Zealand's role in international half-tonne cocaine seizure
New Zealand Customs has played an important role in an international operation which led to the seizure of more than half a tonne of cocaine destined for Australian shores, officials confirmed this week. The operation, which ran across April and May, targeted the increasingly popular "Rip" method of concealment, where drugs are hidden in or extracted from legitimate shipping containers, often with the help of corrupt port insiders. Authorities from New Zealand, Jamaica, the United States, and French territories – including New Caledonia and French Polynesia – worked together to track suspicious containers as they moved through international shipping routes. As part of the operation, officers deployed advanced data visualisation tools, real-time intelligence sharing, and both traditional and emerging inspection technologies to detect narcotics hidden deep within container infrastructure. Customs NZ maritime manager Robert Smith said New Zealand was the final checkpoint in the operation. ADVERTISEMENT "When the containers deemed suspicious arrived at the New Zealand border, Customs officers at the frontline of our defence used a layered approach using intelligence information and targeting, border technologies and good old-fashioned determination to carry out a physical search and examination." He said Customs contributions included not just physical inspections but sharing valuable intelligence back to international partners. "International operations require considerable coordination and cooperation, and we do this well when comes to securing our borders. New Zealand is one piece of the puzzle when it comes to combating transnational serious and organised crime." Smith said international collaboration make it harder for transnational criminals to operate. "A seizure like this is a win for all combating transnational organised crime." Successful intercepts resulting from the operation included 142kg of cocaine found hidden in insulation panels inside a refrigeration unit in French Polynesia; 67kg seized in New Caledonia behind container panels; and more than 285kg discovered across three separate seizures from shipping containers in Melbourne. Australian Border Force (ABF) international commander Claire Rees said the Rip method was becoming "hugely popular" for drug smuggling. "It is only a possible strategy due to the increase of trusted insiders and criminal infiltration throughout the global supply chain. "The operation is one of many examples of ABFs commitment to deepening our connection and capabilities with our international counterparts and our valued industry partners."
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2 days ago
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Three Major French Investors Reject Deep Sea Mining
Three major French financial institutions, including two of the country's largest banks and the state's public investment arm, have announced their rejection of deep sea mining during the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) last week in Nice. The three institutions are: BNP Paribas - France's largest and Europe's second largest bank. BNP Paribas confirms it does not invest in deep sea mining projects due to the intrinsic environmental and social risks involved. Crédit Agricole - The second largest bank in France and the world's largest cooperative financial institution. Crédit Agricole stated it will not finance deep sea mining projects until it has been proven that such operations pose no significant harm to marine ecosystems. Groupe Caisse des Dépôts - The public investment arm of the French Government, which also holds a majority stake in La Banque Postale. The Group has pledged to exclude all financing and investment in companies whose main activity is deep sea mining, as well as in deep sea mining projects. Amundi Asset Management also made a statement that it seeks to avoid investment in companies 'involved in deep sea mining and/or exploration'. This now brings to 24 the number of financial institutions who exclude deep sea mining in some form. Deep Sea Mining Campaign Finance Advocacy Officer Andy Whitmore says: 'This is a truly significant outcome from UNOC. Until recently no French financiers had matched their Government's position calling for a ban. This UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France, was the perfect opportunity for the most important national players to step up and be counted' These financial announcements are a sign of global concern pushing itself on to the agenda. World leaders renewed calls for a global moratorium on the dangerous industry, with French President Emmanuel Macron denouncing it as 'madness', with UN Secretary-General António Guterres responding to recent announcements from President Trump by warning that the deep sea 'cannot become the Wild West.' Slovenia, Latvia, Cyprus and the Marshall Islands also announced their support for a moratorium or precautionary pause, bringing the number of like-minded countries to 37. Andy Whitmore concluded 'the events at UNOC have added further momentum to the financial establishment rejecting deep sea mining. The recent unseemly rush to mine is creating push-back from the financial world, as much as from governments and civil society.'
