Fiji, Sept. 2 -- Pacific governments must provide stronger political backing, funding and legal frameworks to break persistent barriers to intelligence sharing and strengthen the fight against transnational organised crime, a Pacific Islands Forum side event heard.

The issue was raised during a question-and-answer session at the event, " Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Evolving Threats and Pacific Response," involving Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning, Palau Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil and Pacific Fusion Centre, Director Viliame Bovoro.

Questions focused on why intelligence-sharing across the region remained slow and fragmented despite years of discussion about the need for greater cooperation a...