Following a search by Customs in Savusavu of a New Zealand based yacht, the Captain and two crew-members are now in Police Custody, Fiji Revenue and Customs reported today.

The search by Customs Officers led to the seizure of a large quantity of a mix of different ammunition types yesterday.

In a statement, Revenue and Customs CEO, Visvanath Das said this was the second smuggling attempt by yachts stopped by customs this week.

“Just last weekend we discovered a massive drug find on an Australian based yacht and once again our officers dutifully exposed another smuggling attempt,” Mr. Das said.

“We will continue to work with local Border Agencies and Customs partners in New Zealand and Australia to ensure we continue to develop best practice processes and procedures to combat illegal trade,” he added.

 inter-agency collaboration

The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said Fiji continues to quash the notion that a small Pacific Island nation will not be able to effectively police its borders.

“The latest joint operation is again bringing to the forefront the effectiveness of the inter-agency collaboration between law enforcement agencies both here in Fiji and with international law enforcement partners”.

“The latest seizures and interceptions made at our points of entry shows the increased level of collaboration between all agencies involved, and we continue to look at ways to improve the status quo so that those involved in these illegal trades will know that our borders are being monitored”.

He stated that the Police investigations were continuing.