Solomon Islands has called for stronger international cooperation and support to combat transnational crime and illicit drugs , saying no pacific island country can win the fight alone.
In his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Summit in New York on Friday, Prime Minister Wale warned that transnational crime networks are using the pacific ocean as “highway for illicit drugs”, undermining sovereignty and national security, and harming young lives and communities.
“Behind every statistic stands a family, a community, and a young life robbed of its promise,” he said.
In response, Solomon Islands is taking steps to strengthen its efforts against transnational crime, including amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act.
“We are amending our Dangerous Drugs Act to introduce stiffer penalties as a deterrent, and we are strengthening law enforcement to prevent and detect these crimes and to hold perpetrators accountable,” Wale told the international community.
Wale also announced that Solomon Islands has become a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), strengthening its commitment to the principles and objectives of the convention.
But Wale said these efforts are “costly and demanding” and called for stronger international cooperation, greater information sharing, sustained investment in law enforcement capacity, and support for prevention and rehabilitation.
He also proposed a treaty to bind Pacific island countries and their partners to a firm, shared commitment to keeping the Pacific an Ocean of Peace.
“Our vision of a peaceful and secure Pacific extends beyond transnational crime. As enshrined in the Ocean of Peace Declaration, our region must remain free of nuclear weapons and free from destabilizing external influence,” Wale added.
