The AFP and French Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF) have joined forces to deliver specialised training to Kiribati police divers to help combat maritime threats, particularly illicit drug trafficking in the Pacific.
Twelve members from Kiribati Maritime Police travelled to Tahiti in French Polynesia for an Investigative Diving Team course focused on boosting counter narcotics operations by using underwater inspection techniques to detect illicit cargo.
The FAPF led the training, with two AFP diving instructors on hand to share their expertise. The AFP also provided financial and logistical support, including handing over new specialised equipment to the Kiribati divers.
Participants in the two-week course gained their Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) open water diver certification, which involved eight dives focusing on observation exercises on aircraft wrecks.
They also took part in operational reinforcement training, with 10 dives including evidence search exercises and a nautical challenge at the Papeete naval base.
The Kiribati divers will use their new skills to detect illicit cargo, undertake maritime police missions including search and rescue operations, and maintain port infrastructure through underwater technical interventions to support maritime activity.
There are also plans for future, more advanced dive courses to be delivered and extended to other Pacific nations.
AFP Detective Superintendent Grant Liddy said the partnership between Australia, France, and Kiribati strengthened the response to common maritime threats, especially drug trafficking.
"Collaboration is now more important than ever, especially with the ever-increasing threat of serious organised crime impacting the Pacific region," Det Supt Liddy said.
"Training such as this dive course gives our Pacific partners the necessary skills to further target and disrupt serious organised crime.
"The AFP is proud to share our knowledge and experience with our Pacific neighbours."
FAPF Rear Admiral Guillaume Pinget said the pioneering training program, hosted in Tahiti under the Pacific Academy, marked a landmark achievement for maritime security in the South Pacific.
"It underscores the deepening collaboration between France, Australia, and Pacific island nations as we work together to establish a resilient regional security framework," Rear Admiral Pinget said.
"The engagement of 12 Kiribati police officers highlights our neighbours' commitment to this initiative, which integrates advanced field-tested instruction, cutting-edge tactical equipment and hands-on operational engagement.
"We take pride in this program's role in strengthening regional bonds and cultivating a robust security network in the Pacific."
