Senior representatives of the New Zealand Transnational Crime Unit (NZTCU) and its partner agencies, including Australian and Pacific Island partners, gathered in Auckland today to mark the official confirmation that the NZTCU will continue its operations with Pacific partners.

“The NZTCU is pleased to be confirmed as an ongoing part of the Pacific’s regional crime fighting strategy to combat and disrupt organised crime groups’ activities in our part of the world,” Aaron Holloway, NZTCU Manager said.

The NZTCU is part of a multi-agency partnership sharing investigative and intelligence capability to combat transnational crime in the Pacific.

It was established as a pilot programme in early 2019 to add New Zealand resources and expertise to Pacific nations’ fight against transnational criminal activity in the region.

“Since its establishment, the NZTCU has played an important role in the gathering and sharing of intelligence on transnational criminal activities in our region with partner agencies across the Pacific,” New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.

“NZTCU’s ongoing membership of the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) means we are able to draw on the skills, expertise and local knowledge of a wide range of partner agencies, as well being able to support and develop the resources, training and capacity of those partners,”

Samoa Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo, who is also the current chair of the PTCN, attended the ceremony in Auckland marking confirmation of the NZTCU’s ongoing work, said the decision was welcome news.

“It is fitting we celebrate this decision today as the PTCN celebrates 20 years of operations. Twenty years is a major milestone for the vital work our investigations and law enforcement network carries out across the Pacific.

“Working together as one for a safer Pacific is the fundamental vision of our Pacific Transnational Crime Network, and it is reassuring to know we have Aotearoa New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to support that vision,” Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo said.

The NZTCU proved its worth at the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the NZTCU was able to put measures in place and quickly alert border and health officials about travellers breaching COVID isolation requirements and trying to travel to Pacific Island countries.

Where travellers were able to leave New Zealand during the virus incubation period, NZTCU’s extensive contacts network through Customs and Immigration meant health agencies in Pacific Island countries were able to intercept and quarantine the travellers on arrival.

The NZTCU received a World Customs Organisation award for the COVID-19 measures. The WCO described the unit’s efforts as outstanding work to preserve lives in the Pacific during the pandemic.

New Zealand Customs Service Deputy Comptroller Operations, Bill Perry, said the decision to continue the NZTCU’s work demonstrates the value of a multi-agency approach to strengthening intelligence and information sharing, as well as the support it provides for Pacific border agencies to combat transnational organised crime in the region.

“We know transnational organised criminal activity has increased in this region. By working with our partners in the PTCN, and with New Zealand Police, Immigration New Zealand, and the Department of Corrections, we are able to draw on a wide network of information gathering providing good intelligence to target law enforcement activity and cause the most damage to these organised crime groups that are exploiting our region,” Bill Perry said.

NZTCU Manager Aaron Holloway also pointed to the work the unit has done to improve information sharing with Pacific Island partners about criminal deportees being relocated from New Zealand.

“The NZTCU’s work provides Pacific Island authorities with more comprehensive and timely information which allows the Pacific countries receiving deportees to prepare for their arrival and support them.

Notes:

· The New Zealand Transnational Crime Unit (NZTCU) operates out of a multi-agency Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre (ITOC) in NZ Customs Service Auckland facilities.

· The NZTCU is currently comprised of members seconded from New Zealand Police, NZ Customs, Immigration New Zealand, and Corrections.

· The NZTCU is funded via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through the Official Development Assistance fund.

· The NZTCU is one of 28 such units throughout the Pacific which form the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN).

· The PTCN consists of 20 countries across the Pacific. Its regional hub is based at the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre in Samoa’s capital, Apia.

· More information on the PTCN is available here.

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