Fiji Navy Commander Commodore Humphrey Tawake says the Fiji Navy will increase its presence at sea in order to deter and intercept illegal activities from entering the country.

Commodore Tawake was responding to Fiji One News on concerns that Fiji is being used as a transit point for drug trafficking, including the more than four tonnes of methamphetamine seized in Nadi last month.

Fiji Navy Commander Commodore Humphrey Tawake says detecting illegal activities out at sea is a challenge because of Fiji’s large Exclusive Economic Zone.

“The challenge for us is unlike land boarders where you have a mark and you can’t go beyond. In the maritime space, ships can traverse through your jurisdiction for trade and commerce.”

“We have organized criminal activities that is trying to exploit those opportunities out there to conduct illegal activities,” he said.

Commodore Tawake highlighted the need to enhance capacity and work with international partners to protect Fiji from organised crime.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says as trends of organised crime evolved, maritime agencies and disciplinary forces should be prepared accordingly.

Commodore Tawake says the Fiji Navy is ready and prepared to intercept illegal activities at our boarders.

“We have the capability to respond when we know, we will only know that if we have information. We do have arms but we have various stage of our rules of engagement on how we will go about it.”

The Fiji Navy is also working with international partners to share information and intelligence.