The Government of the Cook Islands is strengthening its whole-of-government response to transnational organised crime, led through the National Security Committee and coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Police, national security, border, legal, financial, health and community agencies are being brought together to protect our borders, our ocean and our families.
Prime Minister Hon Mark Brown said recent reports of hard drugs reaching the Cook Islands were understandably worrying for families. He said people could be assured that agencies are working together, and with Pacific partners, to stay ahead of the threat.
“Our people are right to take this seriously, and so are we. The drug trade moving through our region is real and the Cook Islands is not immune to it. But we are not standing still. Through the National Security Committee, the Office of the Prime Minister, Police, Customs, Immigration, the Financial Intelligence Unit, Crown Law and our partners across the Pacific are working as one team, and that work is being stepped up,” the Prime Minister said.
The National Security Committee reconvened in August under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister, and met again in October, the same month Cabinet approved new governance arrangements for the Committee. Through the Committee, OPM is the central coordinating authority for national security policy implementation and oversight. Members include Heads of Ministry and Agency, or their representatives, from OPM, Police, Crown Law, Customs and Immigration.
Arising from the Prime Minister’s participation in the inaugural Pacific Police Ministers Meeting held in Fiji in May, OPM has prioritised the re-establishment of the Committee to lead development of a renewed, whole-of-government Transnational Organised Crime Strategy. OPM is coordinating that work with Committee members, in partnership with the Cook Islands Police Service. The Strategy builds on an earlier draft prepared by Police, widens it to a multi-agency approach to transnational and serious organised crime, and will be informed by a Transnational Crime Assessment being prepared with support from New Zealand Police. It is expected to go to Cabinet in 2027.
The Strategy will set out how agencies work together on border, maritime and air security, and on sharing intelligence to inform both national policy settings and tactical law enforcement. It will also cover financial crime and anti-money laundering efforts, cyber-enabled crime and scams, illegal fishing, and prevention, health and community resilience across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.
Much of the work is already underway:
- Coordination: Through the National Security Committee, OPM brings agencies and external partners together, tracks agreed actions and reports to the Prime Minister.
- Regional intelligence: The Cook Islands Police Transnational Crime Unit was one of the first established in the Pacific Transnational Crime Network. Through the coordination centre in Samoa, it links the Cook Islands with crime units in 21 Pacific countries. Beyond police-led intelligence spheres, the Financial Intelligence Unit, Ministry of Marine Resources, Office of the Prime Minister, Customs, Immigration, Health, Transport and Ports agencies all maintain direct working relationships with New Zealand, Australian and regional intelligence networks and counterpart agencies, strengthening our ability to receive and coordinate critical information required for threat monitoring and response.
- At the border: Police, Customs, Immigration, Transport and Ports authorities work together on detection and on monitoring the movement of goods and persons of interest, with narcotic detector dogs deployed at major entry points and regular maritime surveillance operations across our Exclusive Economic Zone. At the ‘digital border’, OPM has commenced work to design and establish the inaugural National Cyber Security Centre.
- New laws: The Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Act, passed in May 2026, has provided Police with new powers to search computer systems and use electronic evidence, while also giving OPM and Internal Affairs the legislative settings to implement a national digital child exploitation filter, expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. OPM is also continuing work to develop a National Security Bill, in parallel with efforts to develop the next iteration of the National Security Policy.
The Prime Minister said the Cook Islands approach is community-centred and puts prevention first.
“Our greatest strength is our people. Our families, our churches, our ‘aronga mana and our island communities notice when something is wrong long before any agency does. If you see something or know something, please tell the Police. Every piece of information helps keep our islands safe.”
The discovery of suspected cocaine on the reef at Mitiaro in July shows both how far the regional drug trade reaches and why it is important that communities report what they find.
The National Security Committee will continue to meet through the year ahead to guide the Strategy and track agency actions, and the Office of the Prime Minister will report on progress as the Strategy takes shape.
“Keeping our islands safe is a shared responsibility. Government will do its part, with our Pacific partners beside us, and we ask every family and community to do theirs. Together we will protect the people, the ocean and the future we have been entrusted to look after,” the Prime Minister said.
Anyone with information about drug activity or suspicious vessels, packages or behaviour is encouraged to contact the Cook Islands Police Service directly. Information is treated in confidence.
