Suva, Fiji, October 28, 2021- It’s almost a year since Mr. David Towe was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Customs Service. Mr. Towe, a holder of a master’s degree in International Law and Customs Administration, started his professional...
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PR 34/21 OCO and WHO Stand Against Illicit Trade of Tobacco
Suva, Fiji, October 28, 2021- A joint operation by the Oceania Customs Organisation and the World Health Organization codenamed “Operation EXIT” is expected to provide insights into how the region can combat the illicit trade of tobacco, which continues to be a major...
PR 33/21 Christine Stevenson leads New Zealand Customs Service through COVID-19
Suva, Fiji, October 22 October 2021- Christine Stevenson is the Comptroller and Chief Executive of New Zealand Customs Service (NZ Customs), which is the country’s oldest government department. Ms. Stevenson has had a long career in the public sector and has worked...
PR 32/21 Sione’s vision for Niue Customs
Suva, Fiji, October 13, 2021- As head of one of the smallest Customs administrations in the region, it comes as no surprise that Sione Sionetama is well known in Niue. But that doesn’t make his work any easier as he also becomes the unpopular guy when it comes to tax...
PR 30/21 John leads Palau’s Border Protection Efforts
Suva, Fiji, September 13, 2021- On weekends you will find John Tarkong Jr either out at sea fishing or in his “rest home” away from the noise and the hustles and bustles of city life, probably strumming his guitar and singing a note or two over a few beers. Sometimes...
PR 29/21 Mitchell leads Oceania and Cook Islands Customs Service
Suva, Fiji, September 12, 2021- The newly appointed chairperson of the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), Xavier Mitchell is your typical islander with a great love for fishing, in particular game fishing. But what many would not know is that the head of Cook Islands...
PR 28/21 OCO 21st Annual Meeting – Transnational crimes require regional collaboration
Suva, Fiji, September 02, 2021- Despite border closures and reduced air and sea travel because of COVID-19, Customs administrations in the region say threats in the Pacific remain high from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing fleets – as well as threats from...
PR 27/21 Heads of Customs in Oceania region meet for Annual Conference
Suva, Fiji, August 26, 2021- The Heads of Customs administrations in the region are holding their annual conference virtually today to discuss challenges in the region and possible solutions as well as adopt the Pacific Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding...
Vanuatu keeps up with the World of E-Commerce and Digital Trade PR26/21
Suva, Fiji, June 16, 2021- COVID-19 has not only decimated Pacific Island economies, it has also catapulted to the fore the urgent need to move towards digital economies and the importance of e-commerce if we are to be on par with the rest of the world. A report...
Regional collaboration against transnational crimes PR25/21
Suva, Fiji,08 June 2021- The OCO Head of Secretariat, Richard Brennan says the more knowledge OCO members have of organized crimes, the better they will be in catching criminals and disrupting transnational crimes. “Criminals are very creative and we need to be up to...