A Pacific transnational crime report warns that as the probability of transnational crime in the Pacific increases, it is likely there will be an increase in the number of firearms being trafficked into the region.
During the year 2009, 24 weapons were seized domestically while 20 were seized internationally, the report states.
The report identified Tonga and American Samoa as the main centres for the movement of weapons into the greater Pacific region.
Of the 20 weapons recorded as being trafficked through the region in 2009, Tonga and American Samoa accounted for 15, 11 of which were confirmed as being sourced from the US mainland.
All but one of the seven weapons seized in American Samoa were transported by American Samoan nationals (the nationalities of those caught trafficking weapons in Tonga were unknown).”
Tonga was the only country that recorded international trafficking of ammunition during 2009—five incidences in total with all the ammunition being trafficked by cargo vessels. Officials seized 311 rounds of 7.62 mm, 55 rounds of .222 calibre, 19 rounds of 12mm, 19 rounds of .38 calibre and 61 rounds of .44 calibre.
The report also highlighted the following incidents of arms discoveries in the region which included:
• Two .22 calibre and one Daisy BB pump rifle were seized in American Samoa;
• FSM officials seized three .22 long rifles;
• One pistol seized in Kiribati;
• One .25 handgun confiscated in Nauru;
• One self loading rifle (SLR), one browning pistol, one Mossberg shotgun, one Sig Sauer pistol, one MP5 carbine, and two pump action shotguns seized in PNG;
• In Samoa one .25 calibre automatic magazine fed rifle and one .22 rifle were seized;
• In the Solomon Islands, one 303 rifle and one .22 rifle were seized;
• In Tonga, two .22 semi automatic rifles and one .32 calibre rifle were seized;
• One .270 rifle and one 20 gauge shot gun seized in Vanuatu.
The report states that PNG recorded the highest seizure of weapons domestically in the region in 2009.
PNG has a gun culture and a combination of high powered and home-made weapons are used to settle tribal disputes, particularly in the highlands region.
Firearms that were recorded as being trafficked through the Pacific are as follows:
• Two 12 gauge shotguns and five .22 calbre rifles were seized in American Samoa. All the weapons were trafficked from the United States via air or sea and the majority were trafficked by Samoan US nationals.
• PNG seized two M16A2 semi automatic rifles that were part of a consignment air freighted from Singapore;
• In Tonga, eight weapons were trafficked on board cargo vessels. Four were confirmed as being shipped from the US. The weapons included one intratec .22 calibre, one magnum 44, Smith and Wesson special CTG one .45 calibre semi automatic handgun one .222 calibre tikka, one 22 magnum and two 30 mm Noringos (trafficked in separate incidents).
• In Vanuatu, one .22 calibre rifle, one 9 mm pistol and one shotgun were seized from a yacht from New Caledonia.
The report also revealed that domestic ammunitions were seized in American Samoa, Samoa, PNG, Tonga and Vanuatu.
“The domestic ammunition seizures throughout the Pacific highlighted the prevalence of weapons in some of the Pacific countries, particularly Tonga and PNG,” the report said.
“The types of ammunition seized, also gives an indication to law enforcement agencies of the types of weapons locals and criminal groups may already be harbouring.”