SUVA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has established a Proceeds of Crime Taskforce in light of the increase in drug offenses over the past five years.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Pryde said on Tuesday the taskforce will be the central liaison point in the Office of the DPP (ODPP) for money laundering and proceeds of crime matters.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), he said the taskforce will be responsible for developing working relationships with other proceeds of crime agencies such as the police anti money laundering unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, as well as some international agencies.

Pryde said there had been a marked increase in drug offences over the past five years and an exponential increase in the proceeds of this crime being laundered through the financial system in Fiji.

The aim of the taskforce is to concentrate efforts in attacking the drug problem by removing the profit, he said adding that once criminals know the state can confiscate assets that are tainted by criminal activity or that their drug profits can be forfeited, the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence will be a more effective deterrent.

He added that this year's ODPP conference will also focus on addressing ways to tackle proceeds of crime issues such as money laundering.

Fiji's police said they seized over 94 million U.S. dollars' worth of drugs during various operations in 2018.

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said earlier the haul represented a record year for the force and they were working with the ODPP on how to deal with the drugs. Enditem

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