Fiji faces key test in anti-money laundering evaluation

Fiji's commitment to combating money laundering and financial crime will undergo a significant assessment next month during its 2026 Mutual Evaluation. Justice Minister and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga informed Parliament that active forfeiture cases currently involve about $11 million in assets, with most linked to drug-related offenses. A recent case alone involves properties valued at nearly $9 million.

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the upcoming assessment will look at how effectively Fiji uses financial intelligence, investigates suspected crimes, prosecutes offenders and confiscates assets linked to crime.

Turaga explained that the upcoming evaluation will scrutinize how effectively Fiji employs financial intelligence, investigates suspected crimes, prosecutes offenders, and confiscates assets connected to criminal activity. "This evaluation represents an important milestone for our nation," Turaga stated. "It provides Fiji with the opportunity to demonstrate the progress we have made in strengthening our national framework since our last assessment in 2015, while also helping us identify areas where further improvements may be required."

According to Turaga, Fiji has enhanced cooperation among key agencies, including the Police, FICAC (Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), FRCS (Fiji Revenue and Customs Service), the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The evaluation will focus on tangible outcomes, such as inter-agency collaboration, the utilization of financial intelligence, the processes for investigations and prosecutions, and the methods for restraining and confiscating criminal assets.

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This evaluation represents an important milestone for our nation. It provides Fiji with the opportunity to demonstrate the progress we have made in strengthening our national framework since our last assessment in 2015, while also helping us identify areas where further improvements may be required.

Opposition MP Premila Kumar voiced concerns regarding the timely translation of financial intelligence into concrete actions. She noted that while the minister mentioned enforcement agencies, a deeper analysis of the FIU's work reveals existing gaps. "We don’t need anyone from overseas to come and tell us, but it’s good they’re coming, because at least an international perspective will be there, and hopefully that is taken on board," Kumar remarked.

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The focus will be on outcomes, including how agencies work together, how financial intelligence is used, how investigations and prosecutions are undertaken, how assets linked to criminal activity are restrained and confiscated how risks are identified and addressed across financial and non-financial sectors.

The Mutual Evaluation is expected to provide a critical measure of Fiji's success in producing tangible results against money laundering and financial crime, highlighting areas needing further development.

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But when you go deeper into the analysis of FFIU, you can automatically see where the gaps are. It’s crystal clear.We don’t need anyone from overseas to come and tell us, but it’s good they’re coming, because at least an international perspective will be there, and hopefully that is taken on board.