THE Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority is continuing to seize tablets destined for hard drug manufacture on a monthly basis.
FRCA chief executive Jitoko Tikolevu confirmed this, saying that the authority has been working with the Fiji Police Force conducting risk analysis every month targeting flights, boats and cargoes that enter the country.
While Mr Tikolevu did not reveal the value of tablets seized, he said it was of a significant amount.
"Fiji has been known to be a transition point," Mr Tikolevu said.
His comments come as the World Customs Organisation opened a regional training centre for the region at the FRCA Nasese complex in Suva yesterday.
WCO secretary general Kumiyo Mikuriya said a bad effect of being a transition point for drugs was that the drugs could also find its way to the citizens of that country.
He gave the example of West Africa, which was used as transition point for cocaine manufactured in Latin America for the European and US markets.
Mr Mikuriya said West Africa did not have any cocaine addicts initially, however, it now had about two million addicts.
For a country such as Fiji, Mr Mikuriya stressed the importance of border control and the important role the Customs department played.
He added that it was also equally important to have partnerships within the relevant agencies.
Mr Tikolevu said organised crimes were a challenge for most countries in the world, even the most developed.
He added that Fiji was vulnerable and in need of resources for border control.
Mr Tikolevu said fake medicines, in particular those used for body building, had found their way to Fiji.
This was why, he added, partnership with the private sector and other agencies was vital considering the limited resources.
When asked whether locals were involved, Mr Tikolevu said it always took two to tango, and perhaps there were locals and foreigners colluding.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama who officiated at the opening stressed the need for modernisation and reforming of customs laws, which included a campaign against corruption and fraud.
"In Fiji, we are aware that there are short-comings. That there is an opportunity to increase the efficiency and improve the organisation of our customs procedures. That there is a need for the Customs Authority to understand that it does not operate in isolation. That the failure to perform their duties effectively in a short amount of time can have a damaging knock-on effect in the economy," he said.