Solomon Islands: New regulations and drug-testing unlikely to control drug inflow
Around 24 November, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services introduced the Dangerous Drugs Rules 2025, making it illegal to possess, supply, distribute, or manufacture methamphetamine without a licence. Before the new regulations, possessing or manufacturing methamphetamine was not illegal in the Solomon Islands. On 20 November, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) received two Naiad vessels from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Defence Cooperation Program. The vessels are expected to be operational in early 2026, with training to be completed in March 2026. On the same day, the RSIPF and the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT) launched the force’s first standard operating procedure (SOP) for drug testing suspects at the Rove police headquarters. The CPLT also donated 450 sets of drug testing kits capable of detecting five categories of drugs, including cannabis and morphine. The past 12 months has seen a rise in drug-trafficking activity in the country, including the discovery of three empty semi-submersible drug transport vessels.
Assessment: The new regulations and SOP are unlikely to reduce drug inflow, as they target offenders after drugs have already entered the country rather than the trafficking networks. Traffickers will most certainly continue exploiting large maritime security gaps in surveillance, interdiction, and regional cooperation. Some drug-related arrests are likely to increase in the coming months until criminal groups adopt new evasion techniques.
Sources: Fiona Willan, “Narco subs appear in Pacific amid warnings cartels are ramping up trafficking to Australia,” RNZ, November 20, 2025; “Two Naiad vessels delivered to RSIPF,” Solomon Star News, November 20, 2025; “RSIPF and CPLT Launch Solomon Islands’ First Drug Testing SOP,” Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, November 20, 2025; Robert Iroga, “Gov’t introduces new rules targeting METH,” SBM, November 24, 2025.
