More than 50 cases of human trafficking have been reported in Fiji since 2015, says divisional police commander North Senior Superintendent Kemueli Baledrokadroka.
Five of these cases were taken to court with three successful convictions.
“Forms of human trafficking prevalent in Fiji are trafficking in persons, domestic trafficking in person and debt bondage,” he said.
Speaking at a trafficking in person workshop yesterday, SSP Baledrokadroka said capacity building of officers through national and international training and awareness were crucial.
“With the Pacific region facing growing threats of illicit drugs, transnational crime, and climate change, we need to ensure our people are well informed to ward off predators.
“Fiji, having since ratified the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Protocol, has taken great strides in ensuring stakeholders are able to counter trafficking efforts.
“This has seen the setting up of a task force, enabling an enhanced level of collaboration.”
He said the complexities of human trafficking were many.
“It’s an environment where conflict, transnational organised crime, climate change and health emergencies, coupled by the social and economic factors of crime, becomes a real challenge for law enforcement.”
He said there was a need to bring together stakeholders in a bid to save innocent lives from the threats of human trafficking.
