The government says it needs the help of local communities as well as regional partners to protect the nation’s borders from transnational crime.

Transnational crime such as drug trafficking across international borders has become a major challenge in the Pacific region.

Last week, Vanuatu Police and the Customs Department seized more than 450 kilograms of cocaine on board a yacht, marking the latest in a growing number of drug-related transnational crime cases in the Pacific.

Earlier this year, Radio New Zealand reported the discovery of semi-submersible boats in Tonga and Solomon Islands, proof that drug smuggling routes from South America are increasingly passing through Pacific nations.

Also this month, Fiji’s High Court sentenced nine people to prison for drug offences.

Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Solomon Napuat said Vanuatu has requested assistance from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

“We have asked for help from the AFP to send specialist investigators to Vanuatu in the coming days. They will help us trace how the yacht entered, where approval was given, and how it reached Vanuatu. This includes a high-level investigation,” Minister Napuat said.

He noted that the recent cocaine bust highlighted the importance of close cooperation between authorities and local communities.

“These incidents show the increasing challenge we face not only in Vanuatu but also across the region. In Fiji, for example, a recent drug case has resulted in life imprisonment for those involved,” he added.

A 2024 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report identified the Pacific as an emerging hub for transshipment and operations of organized crime.

This is the second major cocaine seizure in Vanuatu’s history, following a 2015 bust of 750 kilograms of cocaine found on a yacht in Port Vila, with assistance from the AFP.

Security partners such as Australia continue to play a crucial role by providing expertise that Vanuatu does not yet have.

“It is not new, what we are seeing. Drugs are reaching our shores, and this shows we have a big task ahead. We must cooperate closely with neighboring countries,” Minister Napuat said.

Investigations into the latest case are continuing. Minister Napuat said the rising number of such cases shows the government must strengthen efforts to protect Vanuatu’s borders.