By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 07 August 2025: The Samoa Police Nafanua 111 Patrol Boat will join the Pacific Fleet, the Ika Moana Maritime Operations in monitoring illegal activities in Pacific Waters and a safe Blue Pacific. The Ika Moana Maritime Operations will bring to Samoa a team of maritime crews from around the Pacific to patrol the pacific waters from illegal operations.

Such illegal operations include illegal fishing and illegal organised crimes such as drug and human trafficking.

There will be 6 patrol boats from Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Samoa and 8 observer countries with 250 crews and observers.

The operation will be hosted in Samoa from the 11 – 18 August 2025.

All teams will get the chance to enhance integrability between the Pacific countries for future collaboration and maintain security space and share skills and knowledge.

The operation is part of showcasing the islands commitments to the Pacific Island Forum 2050 Strategy Promoting Maritime Security with the Pacific Islands.

The fleet of patrol boats are expected to arrive in Apia today and a parade down Beach Road will kickstart the operations training and other activities before heading off to the waters on 11 August 2025.