COCAINE TRAFFICKING SURGE IN THE PACIFIC RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS
August 11, 2026 — Pacific Region: A sharp increase in cocaine trafficking across the Pacific is raising concerns about organised crime, regional security and the growing influence of external powers in vulnerable island nations. More than 17 tonnes of illicit drugs, largely cocaine, have been seized by Australian and international law-enforcement agencies across the Pacific this year , according to figures cited by the Australian Federal Police. The amount already significantly exceeds the approximately 4.6 tonnes seized across the region during the whole of 2025. The development has renewed calls for stronger cooperation between Pacific countries and their international partners as criminal networks increasingly view the region as an important route for moving drugs towards Australia. PACIFIC ISLANDS FACING GROWING PRESSURE The Pacific's enormous maritime area and the geographical isolation of many island nations create significant challenges for law-...