AUSTRALIA GIFTS BOATS TO SOLOMON ISLANDS CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DIVISION

Australia is boosting Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division (SICED) civil maritime security capability through the gifting of three new Yamaha boats to better monitor and protect Solomon Islands border.

This support is being delivered under Australia’s SBD$11.5million capability uplift program being delivered by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s world leading Passenger and Container Control Program.

This globally recognised program will see the delivery of specialist training and equipment, and the establishment of a SICED-led multi-agency Port Control Unit at Honiara Port. This includes delivery of a container side-lifting truck and trace and substance detection equipment.

These assets will not only help SICED to detect, deter and disrupt the movement of illicit drugs, firearms and cash across the border, but also support revenue collection and the Solomon Islands budget by ensuring the right amount of taxes, duties and excise are paid on goods that enter and exit the country. This means more money stays in Solomon Islands and dangerous good kept out to support a more prosperous and secure Solomon Islands.

“Both Australia and Solomon Islands are facing many of the same shared risks and challenges on evolving threats to border security,” H.E. Rod Hilton, Australian High Commission to Solomon Islands, said today.

“The gifting of these vessels to Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division stands to deliver another layer of border protection and is a strong demonstration of Australia’s commitment to our border security partnership with Solomon Islands.”

Supervising Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon. John Tuhaika Jnr., said at the hand over event “A strong maritime enforcement capability is vital in protecting the Solomon Islands community from revenue evasion and threats such as narcotics, firearms or other prohibited or illicit goods from entering the community.”

“I thank Australia for their ongoing support and look forward to seeing how these marine assets and other components of the uplift program can support SICED in executing their important duties”.

“These new vessels will be distributed throughout Solomon Islands and will be critical to improving our capacity to detect and disrupt criminal activity and revenue evasion, including in our remote outposts.”

Australia is working side-by-side with Solomon Islands border security officials at Solomon Islands airports, seaports and remote border outposts to keep Solomon Islands’ safe, secure and prosperous.

ENDS///

– AHC Media Release