‘Pacific Drugs Highway’: Australia’s New Plan to Target Cocaine Traffickers Moving Through Islands

The Australian government has launched a $600 million plan to combat cocaine smuggling through the Pacific, a region plagued by poverty, inequality, and lack of infrastructure. The statistics are alarming: at least five “narco-subs” have been found in the Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands since November 2025, with over $4 billion worth of cocaine seized in French Polynesia and Fiji in January and February alone.

The Pacific region has become a “porous border” for traffickers, who exploit the area’s vulnerability to import cocaine into Australia. The Sydney-based Coconut Cartel, named after a slur against Pacific islanders, has been linked to South American crime groups that have worked together to import cocaine into Australia. This involvement of Australian organised crime groups raises questions about complicity at home.

The government’s new plan includes enhanced intelligence and surveillance, as well as support for Pacific island police forces. However, critics argue that this may not go far enough in addressing the root causes of the problem. One major concern is the risk of small island nations becoming “narco-states” – territories controlled by crime syndicates that use them as transit points for their illicit trade.

Experts are calling for a more coordinated approach between Australian and Pacific authorities to combat this threat. This includes boosting drone and maritime surveillance of drug traffickers, as well as upgrading the capacity of Pacific states to identify and target narco-subs and other technologies used by cartels.

The Pacific region is a complex web of geopolitics, where Australia’s push for influence in the area is being matched by China’s growing presence. This raises questions about the role of Western powers in shaping regional dynamics and whether their efforts are truly aimed at tackling the root causes of crime.

Traffickers typically resupply their water, diesel, and food at designated bases on remote Pacific islands or obtain them from corrupt members of fishing fleets. They employ specially designed small-crew ships with outboard motors that mostly sit underwater and can be difficult to spot on the high seas. This has made it even harder for law enforcement agencies to track them down.

The scale of this trade is staggering, but it’s also a symptom of deeper issues. Poverty, inequality, and lack of infrastructure create an environment where crime syndicates can thrive. Until these underlying issues are addressed, the flow of cocaine will continue to fuel the cartels’ lucrative business.

The involvement of Australian organised crime groups in the cocaine trade raises uncomfortable questions about complicity at home. The Coconut Cartel has been linked to South American crime groups that have worked together to import cocaine into Australia. This suggests a worrying level of collaboration between local and international cartels – one that demands a more robust response from law enforcement.

The Australian government’s new plan is welcome, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to stem the tide of cocaine trafficking through the Pacific. The stakes are high, and the waters are getting darker by the day.