THE Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FFIU) has come under scrutiny over the quality and effectiveness of intelligence reports it provides to law enforcement agencies, with Parliament told poor coordination is hampering investigations into financial crimes.
Standing Committee on Economic Affairs chairman Sakiusa Tubuna presented the committee’s review of the FFIU 2024 Annual Report to Parliament on Wednesday.
The committee found that while the FFIU produced 237 intelligence products in 2024, there was no systematic feedback showing how many resulted in investigations, prosecutions, convictions or asset recoveries.
“The Fiji Police Force informed the committee that due to poor quality of intelligence reports, they have to spend more time and resources in conducting investigations,” Mr Tubuna said.
He said the committee also identified a lack of coordination between the FFIU, Fiji Police Force, FICAC and FRCS, warning this could prevent matters from being pursued through to prosecution.
Despite having only nine permanent and two seconded officers, the FFIU managed more than $37 million transaction reports, processed over $6.1million financial transactions and analysed 304 suspicious transaction reports.
Mr Tubuna said scams accounted for 38 per cent of disseminated intelligence cases in 2024, while tax-related offences represented about 86 per cent of the total transaction value linked to disseminated cases.
The committee called for stronger performance measurement, annual targets and clear benchmarks to allow Parliament and the public to assess the FFIU’s effectiveness and value for money.
It also urged stronger cooperation among agencies as Fiji faced growing threats from scams, tax crimes, money laundering, organised crime and corruption.
