Fiji Immigration Department will be able to properly safeguard our country and fight against crime effectively with access to the INTERPOL database.

Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Yogesh Karan says the Department of Immigration will work hand in hand with the Fiji Police Force to carry out this massive task.

He says through the sharing of data with INTERPOL, Fiji will be able to counter the advancement of crime in the Pacific and the world at large.

This includes acts of terrorism, attacks on passports, travel documents, fraud, and forgery.

Karan says this will allow Fiji to instantly detect any attempts by internationally wanted Persons of Interest to cross Fiji’s borders and international ports of entry.

“The department of immigration assures that we will work hand in hand in collaboration with the police department and we ensure that any person of interest arriving on the border now will not only be greeted by immigration but also by members of the Police force. So a warning to those that have mischievous intentions that now we are all connected to those 194 countries and we look forward to be working together.”

Karan says the Fiji Immigration Department will be able to have access to the INTERPOL database, Criminal Information System, automated fingerprint identification system, DNA profiles of persons of interest, stolen/lost travel documents, arms database and international child exploitation database.

This is after Fiji signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Interpol Communication System Integration with the Fiji Police Force.