Samoa’s Minister of Customs, Masinalupe Leatavao Makisei Pisi, led Samoa’s delegation to the Joint Heads of Pacific Security Conference in Brisbane, Australia, from 28 to 30 April 2026.
The conference brought together heads of security agencies from Pacific island countries and partner nations to discuss border protection, transnational organised crime, intelligence sharing, disaster response and regional security cooperation.
Minister Masinalupe was accompanied by the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Customs Border Operations Division and two senior representatives from the Samoa Ministry of Police, Prison and Corrections Services.
During the official programme, the Minister delivered the keynote address at the JHoPS official welcome dinner. He spoke on Samoa’s commitment to regional security cooperation, information sharing and coordinated border management.
The address also covered the growing complexity of transnational organised crime in the Pacific and Samoa’s readiness to work with regional partners on stronger security frameworks.
Samoa’s delegation also held discussions with Pacific counterparts and partner agencies, including the Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and the New Zealand Customs Service.
The meetings focused on operational capacity, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to security threats affecting the Pacific region.
Samoa’s representatives at the 8th Joint Heads of Pacific Security Conference in Brisbane, Australia. Photo: Supplied
The discussions were also guided by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ approach to peace and security, which supports a collective and regionally led response to traditional and emerging security challenges across the Blue Pacific.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured Gallipoli Barracks, an Australian Defence facility where the Pacific Response Group is based. They also visited the Pinkenba AFP Facility, home of the Pacific Police Support Group.
At the Pinkenba facility, the delegation met two Samoan police officers who are currently undertaking a six-month training programme that began in January this year.
The JHoPS Conference is a regional platform for security leaders to address shared concerns across the Pacific. These include organised crime, border integrity, disaster response coordination and wider security issues linked to humanitarian assistance and climate change.
Samoa’s participation reflects its continued involvement in regional security cooperation and its work with Pacific partners to strengthen stability, resilience and border protection across the region.
This article is based on a joint press release from Samoa’s Ministry of Customs and Revenue and the Samoa Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services.
