The Fiji Police Force is facing a manpower shortage in running its Anti-Money Laundering Unit and Proceeds of Crime Unit, with only nine officers currently manning the department.
This was highlighted by Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Loraini Seru while making submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit’s Annual Report 2024.
She says one of the main issues they are facing is the capacity of personnel.
A/PC Seru says they have tried to source officers from within the organisation to build their capacity and decentralise this capability to the divisions.
She adds that they have identified officers from the divisions to undergo on-the-job training within the Anti-Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Unit.
She further adds that these officers are then sent back to their respective divisions to serve as points of contact in combating money laundering.