Ships sailing into Fiji have colluded with yachties to carry illegal substances into the country, according to the Immigration Ministry.
The ministry’s Permanent secretary, Aliki Salusalu, said these yachts that were cleared by immigration officials anchored in Fiji waters but returned to deep waters to collect illegal packages from the ships.
“This is one of our biggest challenges,” Mr Salusalu said.
“We have had this experience in which yachts, already cleared by us, travel out to deeper waters to meet with the bigger ships and carry back to our country illegal packages.”
Mr Salusalu told the Lau Provincial Council meeting they continued to work with stakeholders and the Government to tighten border security. “Border security is the duty of all of us.
“Some things we won’t see or know as immigration officials, so we are asking district reps and village headmen to work with us and call 1539 and inform us. When that happens, a team will be deployed, which includes officials from immigration, Customs, the Navy and the police. They will come and attend to your reports.”
