THE risk of money laundering in Fiji has been assessed as high, according to the National Policy on Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing report released by the Fiji Intelligence Unit.
Based on the 2025 National Risk Assessment, the policy identifies five major criminal activities driving the elevated risk, led by narcotics-related offences, which authorities say pose a high and increasing threat.
The report says Fiji’s geographic location has made it a key transhipment route for illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamines and cocaine, moving from the US and South America to markets in Australia and New Zealand.
“This has resulted in spillover into the domestic market, increased narcotics use within Fiji and the growth of local organised crime groups,” the report says.
It also notes a growing locally produced marijuana market.
Organised crime and racketeering are identified as another high and increasing threat, encompassing activities such as narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, fraud and human trafficking.
The report says transnational criminal groups, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, have strengthened their presence in Fiji, partly through deportees from overseas jurisdictions.
Taxation and customs-related crimes, including smuggling, are also listed as a high and increasing money laundering threat. These include tax evasion, false or non-declaration of income, VAT fraud and customs duty offences.
The report further highlights environmental crimes — such as illegal logging, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, wildlife trafficking and unauthorised mining — as generating substantial criminal proceeds and posing a high but stable money laundering risk.
Bribery and corruption are similarly assessed as a high but stable threat. While the report says there are no significant cases of grand corruption, it notes continued concerns around bribery, forgery, embezzlement and fraud.
The FIU says Fiji faces a complex cross-border money laundering environment, acting as a transit point, source and recipient of illicit funds.
An analysis of money laundering investigations between 2020 and 2024 shows a strong international nexus, with several cases involving both Fiji and foreign jurisdictions.
The assessment also examines 25 sectors vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing. Five sectors are identified as having a high net risk: commercial banks, foreign exchange dealers and money changers, payment service providers, legal practitioners and real estate agents.
“These sectors have high transaction volumes, diverse customer profiles and multiple products and channels, meaning existing controls do not yet fully offset inherent vulnerabilities,” the report says.
