MARITIME Safety Authority of Fiji and the Financial Intelligence Unit have agreed to share information and intelligence with the aim of curtailing fraud and strengthening border control.
Signed yesterday, the parties aimed to establish and strengthen co-operation to detect, investigate and prosecute money laundering and other serious offences in Fiji.
The sharing of information or intelligence would come in handy in the event, for example, MSAF was investigating a person and wanted the FIU to screen him or her.
The FIU currently maintains over two million financial transaction information and has access to customer information held at various financial institutions. The unit has signed similar MOUs with the Immigration Department, Fiji Police Force, Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, Land Transport Authority, Investment Fiji, Ministry of Justice, and Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.
FIU director, Razim Buksh said such agreements had greatly benefitted the unit and the organisations. For example, a co-operation between the Fiji Police Force and the unit unearthed some cyber crimes this month.
MSAF chief executive Neale Slack said the agreement would enable MSAF to work closely with the FIU to ensure the safety and protection of Fiji's maritime industry under the current and proposed new laws.