NZ’s Customs Minister urges cooperation to combat organised crime in the Pacific

New Zealand’s Customs Minister, Casey Costello, is pushing for improved regional collaboration to tackle the increasing threat of organised crime in the Pacific.

This includes focussing on human trafficking and money laundering, she says.

During her first official visit to Tonga, Costello emphasised the need for collective efforts between New Zealand and Australia to prevent organised crime from infiltrating the Pacific.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Costello says: “I think that the biggest collective coordination around the Pacific with New Zealand and Australia is that this is our backyard, this is our neighbourhood.”

Costello raised concerns about how to close the gap and keep organised crime at bay, saying, “When we talk about organised crime, it's not just drugs, it's tax avoidance, it's money laundering, it's scamming, it's people trafficking.”

Her support aims to help develop regional capabilities, share knowledge, and improve information sharing, as well as to increase New Zealand’s presence in the area.

Casey Costello and Tonga Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake 'Eke (far right). Photo/NZ High Commission Tonga

Costello is the first Customs Minister to visit Tonga officially and plans to visit Fiji and Sāmoa next.

During her trip, she met with the anti-corruption commission, established last year, which highlighted funding issues.

But she says the commission has performed well despite its challenges.

Casey Costello with Tonga Police Minister Piveni Piukala (front row, third from left) Photo/NZ High Commission Tonga

“They're trying to make that connection, looking at a sort of forum and behind the next Pacific leaders forum to kind of get those discussions moving forward.

“And I think it's really important to kind of get that definition of what corruption is.

“It can get blurred a wee bit to something where people aren't doing their job well, to those that are intentionally for personal gain.”

In her discussions with Tonga’s Minister of Police, Customs and Immigration, Costello says that New Zealand is providing support to strengthen legislation that’s ‘more fit for purpose’.

“It's not just border control, but it's also facilitating trade and ensuring that trade is welcomed, but also that the government has the ability to collect excise, gather revenue and tax from the process of trade,” she says.

Watch Casey Costello's full interview below.

She also highlighted improvements in enforcement capabilities through the implementation of detector dogs, with cooperation between New Zealand and Tongan authorities.

Costello indicated continued support for the Pacific region, especially as Sāmoan and Tongan nationals prepare for upcoming elections.

“We need to make that same investment and build that resilience across our Pacific neighbours so that we are a harder border to infiltrate for organised crime, and that's the relationships that are a key part of that programme of work.”