Law enforcement agency officers from across the Pacific are in Samoa to attend the annual Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) which got underway on Monday.

The conference is being held at the Taumeasina Island Resort with representatives from the 20 member countries come together for the first time since 2019. It will run from Monday to Wednesday. 

The current Chair of the PTCN is the Commissioner of Samoa Police Prisons and Corrections Services, stated a media release released jointly on Monday by the PTCN and the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre. 

The theme of the conference is “Reconnections and Reflections”. The theme highlights the importance of re-establishing network relationships but also looking back at the humble beginnings of the network to plan the way forward to secure the region.

The network's motto of "working together as one for a safer Pacific" will no doubt also be a guiding principle with members discussing a variety of topics including ways to combat the issue of transnational organised crime which continues to threaten the region. 

 As part of the program, conference attendees will experience Samoa’s hospitality through a Samoan Tourism Authority Cultural Village experience and if weather permits, participation in the Samoan flag raising morning march.

 Samoa enjoys a special place in the network as the host to the network’s hub, the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), which is located in the Fale Samoa atop the FMFMII Government Building in Apia since 2008. 

While the PTCCC used to have secondments from different Pacific nations, this was put on hold due to the COVID pandemic. Thankfully, with border restrictions now lifted, the PTCCC will resume secondments in the near future with officers from Nauru among the first to be welcomed back. 

Secondments to the PTCCC are afforded great career development opportunities and past officers on secondment to the PTCCC – both from Samoan agencies as well as those from other Pacific nations – have gone on to achieve greater things on their return to their home agencies.

The Team Leader of the PTCCC Mose Sioeli talked about the development opportunities he has had since performing the role.

"I have been fortunate to learn more not just from a national perspective but on what is impacting the safety and security of Samoa from a regional perspective," said Mr. Sioeli.

"This is an invaluable insight for my current role as team leader at the PTCCC but will be of great value for me when I resume my role as Senior Immigration Officer with the MPMC."

Mr. Sioeli recently represented the PTCN at regional forum meeting with the Pacific Islands Forum, the inaugural Pacific Regional Conference on Law Enforcement, and the Pacific Immigration Development community annual meeting.

The PTCN conference in Samoa was officially opened by the Minister of Police and Prisons, Faualo Lefau Harry Schuster and will run for three days.