We continue to work closely with our Pacific partners to detect and disrupt financial crime, with a focus on child sexual exploitation, cryptocurrency crime, and other fast-evolving threats.

The Pacific Financial Intelligence Community (PFIC), established by AUSTRAC and Pacific partners, brings together financial intelligence units to share insights, strengthen detection efforts, and coordinate strategies against regional threats.

AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas emphasises the importance of regional collaboration.

‘If we just stay within our borders, we’d have little chance of success. Our Pacific neighbours play a strategically significant role in detecting and disrupting financial crime on our doorstep. That’s why we’re supporting them with the latest tools and intelligence.’ 

At the 2024 PFIC plenary in Brisbane, members agreed to focus their 2025 efforts on 3 urgent priorities: child sexual exploitation, transnational serious and organised crime and criminal use of virtual assets and cryptocurrency.

Child exploitation a focus

Greater internet connectivity and mobile phone access have created new risks across the Pacific, contributing to a troubling increase in online grooming and abuse. According to the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, reports of online child exploitation have risen sharply in several Pacific nations.

AUSTRAC and Papua New Guinea’s Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (FASU) is launching an intelligence guide for financial intelligence units, law enforcement and relevant businesses in the region to help combat these crimes.

The guide provides advice on detecting and following the money trail of offenders, helping analysts to strengthen profiling and transaction monitoring systems and will be launched at the October PFIC plenary in Fiji.

‘Financial service providers such as banks play a vital frontline role in helping to identify and stop those who abuse children or profit from their exploitation,’ says Dr John Moss, AUSTRAC Deputy CEO Intelligence and PFIC co-chair. 

‘As financial crimes evolve, we need to stay ahead – and we can only do that together. Strong regional partnerships are at the heart of our work in the Pacific.’

Building intelligence together

A cornerstone of our collaboration is the use of Multilateral Intelligence Projects – joint exercises where AUSTRAC analysts work with our regional counterparts to investigate cross-border cases. These projects not only generate actionable intelligence for law enforcement but also strengthen analytical expertise and partnerships across the region.

We also deliver regular training, including risk assessment webinars that help Pacific financial intelligence units (FIUs) conduct their own national money laundering and terrorism financing risk assessments.

Equipping the Pacific with new technology

Technology is another key weapon in the fight against financial crime. We shared our advanced TAIPAN financial intelligence system with 10 Pacific nations, helping analysts identify suspicious transaction patterns that warrant further investigation.

Through training activities – including the innovative TAIPAN Games – Pacific FIUs are building capacity and confidence in using the system. In October the Cook Islands FIU will host the Solomon Islands FIU to conduct live operational analysis with TAIPAN.

In November we will also deliver a 4-day Pacific Financial Intelligence Tradecraft Training program, providing scenario-based, hands-on learning to boost the skills and tradecraft of PFIC members.

The annual PFIC plenary will commence on 28 October in Nadi, Fiji. Co-chair Caroline Pickering, Director of Fiji’s FIU, said she is looking forward to welcoming delegates from across the region.

‘This year’s PFIC plenary is a vital opportunity to share insights, strengthen our partnerships, and drive meaningful outcomes that will enhance our collective response in combating financial crime.’

A little more about PFIC

The Pacific Financial Intelligence Community brings together 15 financial intelligence units from across the region, including Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Meeting every 2 months online and annually in person, PFIC strengthens collaboration through operational engagement, research, training, and shared technology – ensuring the Pacific remains ahead of emerging financial crime threats.