FIJI’S vast maritime domain is being described as a “transnational highway” for drugs and other criminal activity, prompting the Government to push urgently for stronger legal powers to police the country’s waters.
Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo told Parliament the urgency behind the Maritime Powers Bill 2026 was driven by the scale of Fiji’s maritime borders and the growing threat of transnational crime.
Fiji’s EEZ covers more than 1.2 million square kilometres, creating a huge area for authorities to monitor and protect. “That border right now is a transnational highway of everything that is bad passing through the Pacific, feeding into the Pacific,” Mr Vosarogo said.
He said drugs were already affecting communities and warned that without stronger powers for the Fiji Navy and other personnel, authorities would struggle to effectively confront criminal activity entering Fiji’s maritime borders.
“If our Navy and our personnel are not empowered to deal with transnational crimes through our sea borders, then I wonder why we are here.”
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua said criminal networks were already exploiting maritime routes and Fiji’s agencies were operating at sea without a modern unified legal framework to support their operations.
He warned that delays could lead to failed interdictions, lost evidence and unsuccessful prosecutions.
The Bill is scheduled to be debated and voted on today after Parliament approved its fast-tracking under Standing Order 51.
