Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine Wants More Action On Drugs

Friday, 13 March 2026, 3:00 pm
Article: RNZ

Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal / RNZ Pacific correspondent

The persistent and apparently worsening hard drug problem in the Marshall Islands is a major concern of President Hilda Heine, who this week said she is not satisfied with the level of action to stop the spread of illegal drugs in the country.

In response to questions and concerns raised by political leaders in the parliament the past several weeks, she delivered a report to the parliament and made extended remarks about the drug problem.

Heine called for stepped up action by law enforcement.

In 2025, so much cocaine washed into this western Pacific nation from Central and South America that one law enforcement official commented: "It's raining cocaine" in the Marshall Islands.

Last year saw the most-ever cocaine packages wash up on multiple islands around this watery nation. While some of it was as turned in to authorities, a steady supply was not and gets filtered into the two urban centers, Majuro and Ebeye, where it is concerned to crack cocaine "rocks" that sell for $5 apiece on the street, fueling the local drug market.

Heine both submitted a three-page status report about the drug situation from the Office of National Security and delivered extended remarks in parliament.

'People getting away with murder'

In comments to the Marshall Islands Journal after making her presentation earlier in the week, Heine emphasised her call for greater action.

"It's good to have all these plans and strategies and training and capacity development, which is where we're at in trying to get the lay of the land and get ourselves organised [on the drug problem in RMI]," she said.

"But in the meantime, people are, you know, getting away with murder. People who are using the drugs are not being prosecuted now as much as I'd like to see. I don't think that we're moving fast enough to arrest and convict people who are doing this, so that people can know that we're serious about this."

She recognised steps taken to date, such as placement of a scanner at the main post office in Majuro that is used for scanning in-bound mail for drugs and other contraband and engaging law enforcement experts including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to bolster anti-drug work in the country.

But, she added: "I guess I'm impatient. I'd like to see things moving faster in this area … [so] the drug users know that we're serious about catching them…especially the ones that are selling and distributing (drugs)."

"The government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands remains deeply concerned about the growing threat of illegal drugs in our communities," stated the Office of National Security report to Speaker Brenson Wase and Nitijela members that the President submitted.

"In recent months, there have been increasing reports of cocaine packages washing ashore across several atolls, as well as a rise in related crimes such as burglary and theft. These developments pose serious risks to public safety, community well-being, and the future of our youth."

The Office of National Security report goes on to list actions taken, including establishment of a Substance/Drug Task Force, which is working on a National Counter Drug Strategy. A scanner has gone into use in the Majuro Post Office, "which will strengthen our ability to detect illegal substances entering the country through the mail system," the report said.

Representatives from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs are expected soon for a "scoping mission" to identify areas for future drug prevention aid. The report to Nitijela added that the FBI is already "working closely" with RMI law enforcement.

Looking at domestic threats, the report said: "Over the past few months, reports have also indicated the presence of suspected narco-submersible vessels near Arno Atoll, raising further concern that cocaine packages may have also washed up in these vessels."

The President in her comments to Nitijela highlighted a plan for a National Security Summit to ""bring together traditional leaders, national and local government leaders, religious organizations, community and youth representatives, and other civil society groups to discuss emerging threats and national challenges facing our nation".

It is essential, she said, to involve community leaders in this dialogue to improve the response to the drug problem and find ways to prevent their spread in the country.

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