PORT VILA, Vanuatu, October 8, 2026 — The waters that lie between Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands could become much more difficult for drug traffickers to navigate as the two neighbouring Melanesian countries embark on joint maritime patrols to cut down on illegal activities along their shared maritime border.
The project is a follow-up to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed on August 18, 2026, by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) in Honiara. The MoU serves as a framework for strengthening maritime policing, maritime surveillance, intelligence sharing, training, and criminal and forensic cooperation, as well as sharing of maritime resources between countries.
Just several days later, on August 25, 2026, Vanuatu Minister for Internal Affairs Andrew Solomon Napuat explained a special aspect of the new partnership representing a joint patrol operation established at the maritime border of Torba Province of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The terms of the deal allow the Solomon Islands to provide a patrol boat and crew, while Vanuatu is to provide police personnel from its maritime division.
This initiative takes place against a more general Pacific security challenge when significant areas of ocean might serve as a location for organised crime networks. During the comments made around the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Napuat stated that criminal organisations do not care about the borders of the nations and mentioned that such areas of concern as illegal drugs, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and cybercrime have become crucial points for security in the region. Napuat also emphasised that joint patrols and intelligence sharing can effectively protect maritime regions.
The history of Vanuatu demonstrates the importance of the issue. According to the National Security Strategy of Vanuatu, in 2013 Port Vila experienced the biggest drug confiscation within the Pacific Area — 750 kg of cocaine worth A$370 million was seized. The operation involved the efforts of various partners from the Pacific and abroad.
That is why for Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, the new plan is more than just another police undertaking, as it is aimed at turning the maritime borders into a security tool instead of a potential liability. The authorities plan to use various vessels and proactively cooperate with each other and other countries to preempt and combat criminal gangs.
Both countries are sending a clear message that borders cannot become a barrier when it comes to countering organised crime.
