OCO, ABF assist Fiji
THE Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) and Australian Border Force (ABF) are in Savusavu to assist Fijian border law enforcement agencies prepare for the Blue Lane initiative.
The assistance included provision of training on the use of the Pacific Small Craft Application (a mobile App) that would assist in collecting data for small craft such as yachts.
OCC head of secretariat Richard Brennan said small craft remained a high threat to all countries in the Pacific for a number of illicit activities, including the movement of weapons, drugs and people.
“Small crafts continue to be targeted by organised crime groups for the transport of illicit drugs,” he said.
“OCO and ABF are in Savusavu preparing border law enforcement agencies such as the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Department of Immigration, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and the Fiji Police Force on the use of the App in anticipation of the sailing season from May to October.
“Fiji has opened its borders with strict guidelines for yachts and luxury vessels through the Blue Lane initiative.
“The App will be useful for the border law enforcement agencies in Fiji as we continue with our roles of keeping our borders safe.”
He said the App was developed by ABF for the OCO members to improve the way small craft information was collected and shared within the Pacific.
Mr Brennan said the App had been given to the OCO secretariat to administer and as part of the handover.
He said Australia had committed to a rollout and sustainment program to assist the OCO and other Pacific border agencies in integrating the App across the region.
“The technology will leverage the analysis capability of movement of yachts in the Pacific, adding value to intelligence gathering on small craft and provide opportunities for proactive approaches for any suspicious craft movement.”
Fiji’s COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce has approved Savusavu as a designated quarantine anchorage under the Blue Lane initiative of the Fijian COVID Safe Economic Recovery Framework.