U.S. to Host Inaugural Pacific Islands Police Ministers’ Conference to Strengthen Regional Security
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
LOS ANGELES, October 20, 2026: The United States is set to host the inaugural U.S.–Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers (COPMIN) in Los Angeles, California, on October 21–22, 2026, bringing together regional law enforcement leaders to strengthen cooperation against transnational criminal networks operating across the Pacific.
Organised under the theme “Securing the Pacific Together,” the two-day conference will focus on improving coordination among Pacific Island nations and international partners to address drug trafficking, maritime security threats, cyber-enabled fraud and illicit financial activities.
According to a U.S. Department of State media note dated October 20, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday will co-chair the ministerial meeting alongside Palau’s Minister of Justice, Jennifer Olegeriil. Admiral Lunday will also lead the U.S. delegation.
The American delegation will include Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs F. Cartwright Weiland, alongside senior representatives from several federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force West.
Tackling Transnational Criminal Networks
The conference will bring together police ministers and law enforcement officials from across the Pacific Islands, with Ecuador and the Philippines also participating. Discussions will address the growing challenges posed by criminal organisations that exploit the Pacific Ocean’s vast maritime routes to transport illegal drugs and conduct cross-border illicit activities.
The U.S. media note identifies trafficking in fentanyl precursors, cocaine, methamphetamine and other narcotics as key concerns. It also highlights online scams, cyber-enabled financial crimes and underground banking networks used to launder criminal proceeds.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will be another important issue. Distant-water fishing fleets engaged in such activities can undermine sustainable fisheries and put additional pressure on the Pacific region’s marine resources.
Focus on Maritime and Port Security
A major objective of COPMIN will be to improve joint responses to drug trafficking, reinforce maritime and port security, counter cyber-enabled fraud and disrupt illicit financial networks.
A cross-regional roundtable will bring together officials from Ecuador, the Philippine Coast Guard, the United States and Pacific Island nations. The discussions will examine how trafficking routes and illegal fishing operations connect the Americas, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
As part of the programme, Pacific officials are scheduled to visit the Port of Long Beach in California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will demonstrate drug-detection technology, while a harbour tour will provide an opportunity to observe how port authorities work to identify and prevent criminal infiltration of supply chains.
These activities are intended to encourage practical cooperation and strengthen the exchange of law enforcement knowledge among participating countries.
Why Pacific Security Matters to the United States
Washington has emphasised that stability across the Pacific is closely linked to the security of the United States and its overseas territories.
According to the U.S. media note, more than 1.9 million U.S. citizens and nationals live in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Tens of millions more reside along the country’s western seaboard, extending from California to Alaska.
The conference reflects the U.S. commitment to working with Pacific partners to protect communities from cross-border criminal activity and strengthen regional law enforcement capabilities.
Building a Stronger Regional Partnership
COPMIN is intended to provide a platform for closer cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies confronting criminal networks that operate across national boundaries. Its agenda combines policy discussions with practical demonstrations and regional exchanges aimed at improving coordination on shared security concerns.
The inaugural meeting will place particular emphasis on the links between maritime routes, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, illegal fishing and illicit finance.
The central message of the initiative is that regional security requires coordinated action across borders. By strengthening partnerships with Pacific Island nations and other participating countries, the United States aims to support a more secure maritime environment and improve collective responses to transnational crime.
Source: U.S. Department of State, U.S.–Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers (COPMIN) – “Securing the Pacific Together,” Media Note, October 20, 2026.
