Container control
The Fiji Detector Dog Unit has been instrumental in intercepting hard drugs since its inception in November 2016, says the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. Picture: FILE
AS the global economy becomes increasingly interconnected, opportunities for trade have spread around the world.
Shipping lanes are the superhighways of international commerce; more than 750 million containers are transported by sea every year, accounting for 90 per cent of the global cargo trade.
However, this presents opportunities not only for governments and legitimate businesses, but also for terrorists and transnational organised crime groups to transport anything from legal goods used for money laundering, to prohibited drugs and even materials for weapons of mass destruction.
In response to this threat, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) , World Customs Organization (WCO) and Australian Border Force (ABF) launched the container control program (CCP) to assist Governments in establishing effective container selections and controls to prevent drug trafficking and other illicit cross-border activities.
At the heart of this innovative approach is the creation of inter-agency port control units (PCUs), consisting of risk analysts and physical inspection teams from different law enforcement agencies (e.g. Customs, police and other law enforcement agencies), who are trained and equipped in the framework of the CCP to work together to systematically target high-risk containers for professional law enforcement scrutiny, using risk analysis and other proactive techniques with minimum disruption to the free flow of legitimate trade.
Based on the success in establishing operational units in seaports, the CCP expanded its scope into the air cargo segment and to selected land border crossings.
Its staged approach in developing the new air cargo control units (ACCUs) and the units at the land borders remains unchanged as it proved to be functional, feasible and sustainable.
Adequate accommodation and access to relevant shipping information, as well as management support, are just some of the key motivating factors that typically need to be addressed.
A staged approach to the training of the officers concerned, ranging from basic risk profiling skills to advanced levels (focusing, for instance, on strategic goods control, illicit trade in timber, precursor chemicals), seeks to establish qualified and sustainable structures for developing and processing intelligence for targeting purposes.
Another important aspect is the exchange of information and intelligence among the PCUs and ACCUs established worldwide, using a secure communication system. A reliable network of like-minded law enforcement entities is a prerequisite for success in an environment of globalised trade and globalised crime.
Numerous significant seizures of drugs and other prohibited materials demonstrate the importance and efficiency of this multilateral co-operation among the PCUs.
Workshop on container control program A two-week long workshop on the Container Control Program is currently underway at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Training Centre in Nasese, Suva.
The workshop, which began on August 26, was officially opened by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, who in his opening address stated that Australia remained committed to supporting and working collaboratively with regional partners to strengthen borders in preventing the trade in illicit goods and also to ensure that correct revenues and taxes were paid on legitimate goods.
Mr Feakes also stated that under this particular CCP initiative, Australia had partnered with both the World Customs Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to deliver a global product that demonstrated the significance and importance of multinational collaboration in the fight against transnational crime. As our neighbour and friend, and as the logistical hub for the Pacific, Fiji was identified to be the first nation in the region to host a CCP.
The workshop is sponsored by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Container movement in and out of Fiji A large volume of containers is imported and exported each year through the major port of entries in Fiji. The total container movement since 2016 is as follows.
• 2016: Import - 54,747; Export - 36,099 • 2017: Import - 53,330; Export - 44,690 • 2018: Import - 65,115; Export - 47,048
• 2019 (January to July 23): Import - 37,726; Import - 25,506 Passenger movement in and out of Fiji The arrival and departure of passengers in and out of the country since 2016 is as follows.
• 2016: Arrivals - 940,578; Departures - 912,416 • 2017: Arrivals - 1,001,184 ; Departures - 969,103 • 2018: Arrivals - 1,018,267 ; Departures - 1,005,251 • 2019 (January to July 23): Arrivals - 74,403 ; Departures - 72,703 Border security in Fiji Fiji is not immune to drug and other smuggling threats, given that we are located in the centre of the Pacific and act as the transit point for a number of countries.
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has stationed experienced Customs officers at our border points to profile passengers and cargo before they enter Fiji to identify and mitigate the risk of illegal activities. Assets to support our staff members include our detector dog unit in Nadi, drug detection equipment and X- ray equipment which is used for in-depth screening of baggage, cargo and mail.
Detector dog unit The Fiji detector dog unit has been instrumental in intercepting hard drugs since its inception in November 2016.
Apart from hard drugs it has also detected other narcotics like cannabis, steroids, Ephedrine (a methamphetamine precursor) and liquid products used for producing explosives. The interception of this contraband runs into millions of dollars.
The K9 unit also has the capacity to detect currencies that are smuggled at our borders and so far has helped stop thousands of dollars from illegally crossing our border.
The detector dog unit compliments the non-intrusive inspection (scanning) and physical checks carried out by Customs officers. They are an extremely valuable asset in helping us to protect our borders.
The dogs selected for the K9 unit underwent rigorous training in the detection of specific types of items such as drugs, explosives and currencies before being commissioned into active duty. Similarly, the K9 handlers were specially selected for their ability to work with and understand the behaviour of dogs.
With an ability to quickly screen a large volume of people or goods crossing our borders, our detector dog's capabilities mean that including them in the layers of Fiji’s risk detection tools will enhance the overall security of our border and that of neighbouring countries as well.
Rapiscan X-ray machine The government of the state of Israel gave a Rapiscan X-ray machine to FRCS on July 27, 2017 and it complements current and planned X-ray capability.
The machine delivers high quality results; the baggage and parcel scanning solutions are versatile to adapt to different screening scenarios and alert upon the presence of explosives and narcotics.
The Rapiscan machine is jointly used at the Nadi International Airport by the Bio-Security Authority of Fiji and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.
Passenger and cargo profiling We are continuously working to enhance our risk profiling capabilities around passengers and goods and craft.
This capability is critical to ensure legitimate trade and travel is facilitated while illicit trade and travel is detected and managed appropriately. Advance information around people, goods and craft is critical and a core component of our risk identification strategy.
The Customs intelligence teams work closely with frontline staff to ensure information is assessed and intelligence flows quickly to assist with risk identification, management and compliance activity across all import and export pathways.
Such profiling is used extensively by our Nadi border compliance team who are a newly created team dedicated to targeted interventions ensuring passengers and craft utilising Nadi International Airport are compliant with Fiji’s laws. This team has identified multiple incursions including currency smuggling, skimming crime groups, drugs and other undeclared goods.
Non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies The fight against the harmful pest, diseases and illegal materials entering our country has seen the launch of advanced NII technologies to help strengthen our border security.
The NII technology is similar to a X- Ray imaging type equipment and gives a quick insight into cargo load of container or pallet without the need to open it. In a co-ordinated intervention approach, this significantly reduces the number of physical inspections, time required for inspection thus minimising delays in clearance of unregulated articles.
Seizures at our ports of entry In the past few years, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services seized drugs and other prohibited items amounting to millions of dollars.
All drug seizures encountered at the border are not for local consumptions as Fiji is only used as a transit point to conceal its origin and the route taken by the courier. The threat, on the other hand, will be very serious if they are consumed locally as the harmfulness will be focused on its addictiveness to the consumers and the physical harm it will cause.
The addictiveness of the consumers will create the market and the demand will contribute to the increase in smuggling through our borders, the setup of local laboratories and drug syndicates.
The physical harm on the other hand will affect the consumers' family, loved ones, relatives and friends as they will be the ones who will bore medical costs and in worst case scenario lead to loss of life.
The threat on government would be the increase costs in medicaments and rehabilitation works through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. There will be an increase in organised crime activities in the likes of money laundering, human trafficking, prostitution, child sex tourism, murder, terror financing to name a few.
FRCS has a profiling system in place where one of the functions is to make selections and targeting through the virtual border with the intention of identifying high risk consignments, vessels and passengers at an early stage before their arrival.
FRCS also believes and is engaged in partnering with border and law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders through collaboration and sharing of information.
FRCS is also engaged in public awareness and creating networks locally and internationally.
Collaboration with other border agencies Due to the nature of the Fiji's geography and also logistics of monitoring the islands which make up the Republic of Fiji, Customs works very closely with many law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally to ensure we achieve as much coverage as possible.
Not only do we work with law enforcement we also have a very close working relationship with port administrators, marina owners, airlines, shipping agents, et cetera, across Fiji whereby information is shared.
We have rolled out a coast watch framework whereby we encourage Fijians to be our eyes and ears and to provide information to Customs in relation to suspicious activities in relation to maritime crafts, items loaded and unloaded from shipping containers, happening within the areas they leave in.
Effective collaboration and partnership with all port users, national and international law enforcement agencies and the general public is key to a strengthened security at our ports of entry.
Through information sharing and networking among our respective agencies and other stakeholders, we are able to then run profiles to determine whether a vessel, aircraft, cargo and persons pose the greatest risks and requiring a search upon arrival and departing these ports of entry in Fiji. Furthermore, we have invested and been aided by our international counterparts with tools-to-aid, for the purpose of assisting our officers on the ground make presumptive confirmation of precursor's and illicit drugs, before submitting to police for confirmation tests of these findings and in-depth investigations.
Currency smuggling Persons travelling into or out of Fiji are required to declare to Custom officials at the borders if they are carrying on themselves or in their possessions, any currency or bearer negotiable instruments of $10,000 or more (or equivalent amounts in foreign currency).
Negotiable bearer instruments include cheques, traveller's cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, certificate of deposit, money orders, postal orders, bearer bonds and other debt instruments.
Travellers must make this declaration on a Fiji immigration departure card for departures and also by completing a border currency reporting form which will be made available at the Customs counter at the ports or airports. For travellers arriving into Fiji, this will need to be declared on the passenger arrival card and also by completing a border currency reporting form.
For more information, please send your queries to info@frcs.org.fj.
Shipping lanes are the superhighways of international commerce; more than 750 million containers are transported by sea every year, accounting for 90 per cent of the global cargo trade.
However, this presents opportunities not only for governments and legitimate businesses, but also for terrorists and transnational organised crime groups to transport anything from legal goods used for money laundering, to prohibited drugs and even materials for weapons of mass destruction.
In response to this threat, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) , World Customs Organization (WCO) and Australian Border Force (ABF) launched the container control program (CCP) to assist Governments in establishing effective container selections and controls to prevent drug trafficking and other illicit cross-border activities.
At the heart of this innovative approach is the creation of inter-agency port control units (PCUs), consisting of risk analysts and physical inspection teams from different law enforcement agencies (e.g. Customs, police and other law enforcement agencies), who are trained and equipped in the framework of the CCP to work together to systematically target high-risk containers for professional law enforcement scrutiny, using risk analysis and other proactive techniques with minimum disruption to the free flow of legitimate trade.
Based on the success in establishing operational units in seaports, the CCP expanded its scope into the air cargo segment and to selected land border crossings.
Its staged approach in developing the new air cargo control units (ACCUs) and the units at the land borders remains unchanged as it proved to be functional, feasible and sustainable.
Adequate accommodation and access to relevant shipping information, as well as management support, are just some of the key motivating factors that typically need to be addressed.
A staged approach to the training of the officers concerned, ranging from basic risk profiling skills to advanced levels (focusing, for instance, on strategic goods control, illicit trade in timber, precursor chemicals), seeks to establish qualified and sustainable structures for developing and processing intelligence for targeting purposes.
Another important aspect is the exchange of information and intelligence among the PCUs and ACCUs established worldwide, using a secure communication system. A reliable network of like-minded law enforcement entities is a prerequisite for success in an environment of globalised trade and globalised crime.
Numerous significant seizures of drugs and other prohibited materials demonstrate the importance and efficiency of this multilateral co-operation among the PCUs.
Workshop on container control program A two-week long workshop on the Container Control Program is currently underway at the World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Training Centre in Nasese, Suva.
The workshop, which began on August 26, was officially opened by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, who in his opening address stated that Australia remained committed to supporting and working collaboratively with regional partners to strengthen borders in preventing the trade in illicit goods and also to ensure that correct revenues and taxes were paid on legitimate goods.
Mr Feakes also stated that under this particular CCP initiative, Australia had partnered with both the World Customs Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to deliver a global product that demonstrated the significance and importance of multinational collaboration in the fight against transnational crime. As our neighbour and friend, and as the logistical hub for the Pacific, Fiji was identified to be the first nation in the region to host a CCP.
The workshop is sponsored by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Container movement in and out of Fiji A large volume of containers is imported and exported each year through the major port of entries in Fiji. The total container movement since 2016 is as follows.
• 2016: Import - 54,747; Export - 36,099 • 2017: Import - 53,330; Export - 44,690 • 2018: Import - 65,115; Export - 47,048
• 2019 (January to July 23): Import - 37,726; Import - 25,506 Passenger movement in and out of Fiji The arrival and departure of passengers in and out of the country since 2016 is as follows.
• 2016: Arrivals - 940,578; Departures - 912,416 • 2017: Arrivals - 1,001,184 ; Departures - 969,103 • 2018: Arrivals - 1,018,267 ; Departures - 1,005,251 • 2019 (January to July 23): Arrivals - 74,403 ; Departures - 72,703 Border security in Fiji Fiji is not immune to drug and other smuggling threats, given that we are located in the centre of the Pacific and act as the transit point for a number of countries.
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has stationed experienced Customs officers at our border points to profile passengers and cargo before they enter Fiji to identify and mitigate the risk of illegal activities. Assets to support our staff members include our detector dog unit in Nadi, drug detection equipment and X- ray equipment which is used for in-depth screening of baggage, cargo and mail.
Detector dog unit The Fiji detector dog unit has been instrumental in intercepting hard drugs since its inception in November 2016.
Apart from hard drugs it has also detected other narcotics like cannabis, steroids, Ephedrine (a methamphetamine precursor) and liquid products used for producing explosives. The interception of this contraband runs into millions of dollars.
The K9 unit also has the capacity to detect currencies that are smuggled at our borders and so far has helped stop thousands of dollars from illegally crossing our border.
The detector dog unit compliments the non-intrusive inspection (scanning) and physical checks carried out by Customs officers. They are an extremely valuable asset in helping us to protect our borders.
The dogs selected for the K9 unit underwent rigorous training in the detection of specific types of items such as drugs, explosives and currencies before being commissioned into active duty. Similarly, the K9 handlers were specially selected for their ability to work with and understand the behaviour of dogs.
With an ability to quickly screen a large volume of people or goods crossing our borders, our detector dog's capabilities mean that including them in the layers of Fiji’s risk detection tools will enhance the overall security of our border and that of neighbouring countries as well.
Rapiscan X-ray machine The government of the state of Israel gave a Rapiscan X-ray machine to FRCS on July 27, 2017 and it complements current and planned X-ray capability.
The machine delivers high quality results; the baggage and parcel scanning solutions are versatile to adapt to different screening scenarios and alert upon the presence of explosives and narcotics.
The Rapiscan machine is jointly used at the Nadi International Airport by the Bio-Security Authority of Fiji and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.
Passenger and cargo profiling We are continuously working to enhance our risk profiling capabilities around passengers and goods and craft.
This capability is critical to ensure legitimate trade and travel is facilitated while illicit trade and travel is detected and managed appropriately. Advance information around people, goods and craft is critical and a core component of our risk identification strategy.
The Customs intelligence teams work closely with frontline staff to ensure information is assessed and intelligence flows quickly to assist with risk identification, management and compliance activity across all import and export pathways.
Such profiling is used extensively by our Nadi border compliance team who are a newly created team dedicated to targeted interventions ensuring passengers and craft utilising Nadi International Airport are compliant with Fiji’s laws. This team has identified multiple incursions including currency smuggling, skimming crime groups, drugs and other undeclared goods.
Non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies The fight against the harmful pest, diseases and illegal materials entering our country has seen the launch of advanced NII technologies to help strengthen our border security.
The NII technology is similar to a X- Ray imaging type equipment and gives a quick insight into cargo load of container or pallet without the need to open it. In a co-ordinated intervention approach, this significantly reduces the number of physical inspections, time required for inspection thus minimising delays in clearance of unregulated articles.
Seizures at our ports of entry In the past few years, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services seized drugs and other prohibited items amounting to millions of dollars.
All drug seizures encountered at the border are not for local consumptions as Fiji is only used as a transit point to conceal its origin and the route taken by the courier. The threat, on the other hand, will be very serious if they are consumed locally as the harmfulness will be focused on its addictiveness to the consumers and the physical harm it will cause.
The addictiveness of the consumers will create the market and the demand will contribute to the increase in smuggling through our borders, the setup of local laboratories and drug syndicates.
The physical harm on the other hand will affect the consumers' family, loved ones, relatives and friends as they will be the ones who will bore medical costs and in worst case scenario lead to loss of life.
The threat on government would be the increase costs in medicaments and rehabilitation works through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. There will be an increase in organised crime activities in the likes of money laundering, human trafficking, prostitution, child sex tourism, murder, terror financing to name a few.
FRCS has a profiling system in place where one of the functions is to make selections and targeting through the virtual border with the intention of identifying high risk consignments, vessels and passengers at an early stage before their arrival.
FRCS also believes and is engaged in partnering with border and law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders through collaboration and sharing of information.
FRCS is also engaged in public awareness and creating networks locally and internationally.
Collaboration with other border agencies Due to the nature of the Fiji's geography and also logistics of monitoring the islands which make up the Republic of Fiji, Customs works very closely with many law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally to ensure we achieve as much coverage as possible.
Not only do we work with law enforcement we also have a very close working relationship with port administrators, marina owners, airlines, shipping agents, et cetera, across Fiji whereby information is shared.
We have rolled out a coast watch framework whereby we encourage Fijians to be our eyes and ears and to provide information to Customs in relation to suspicious activities in relation to maritime crafts, items loaded and unloaded from shipping containers, happening within the areas they leave in.
Effective collaboration and partnership with all port users, national and international law enforcement agencies and the general public is key to a strengthened security at our ports of entry.
Through information sharing and networking among our respective agencies and other stakeholders, we are able to then run profiles to determine whether a vessel, aircraft, cargo and persons pose the greatest risks and requiring a search upon arrival and departing these ports of entry in Fiji. Furthermore, we have invested and been aided by our international counterparts with tools-to-aid, for the purpose of assisting our officers on the ground make presumptive confirmation of precursor's and illicit drugs, before submitting to police for confirmation tests of these findings and in-depth investigations.
Currency smuggling Persons travelling into or out of Fiji are required to declare to Custom officials at the borders if they are carrying on themselves or in their possessions, any currency or bearer negotiable instruments of $10,000 or more (or equivalent amounts in foreign currency).
Negotiable bearer instruments include cheques, traveller's cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, certificate of deposit, money orders, postal orders, bearer bonds and other debt instruments.
Travellers must make this declaration on a Fiji immigration departure card for departures and also by completing a border currency reporting form which will be made available at the Customs counter at the ports or airports. For travellers arriving into Fiji, this will need to be declared on the passenger arrival card and also by completing a border currency reporting form.
For more information, please send your queries to info@frcs.org.fj.