Tansational crimes under the spotlight at regional police meeting

Law enforcement agencies within the Southern Africa region have committed to strengthening collaboration in the fight against cross-border and transnational organised crime. 

This is according to National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, who was speaking on Thursday at a two-day consultative meeting attended by heads of police in Botswana on transnational organised crime. 

This high-level meeting has brought together police chiefs and specialised detectives and intelligence operatives from Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its aim was to ensure all law enforcement agencies within the region strengthen and heighten working relations through joint operations and investigations, explore new strategies and promote joint efforts to prevent and combat transnational organised crime.

The meeting saw all six countries commit resources and capacity that will focus on dealing decisively with organised crime syndicates involved in stock theft, illegal mining, cybercrime, smuggling of stolen vehicles, the proliferation of firearms, drug trafficking as well as human trafficking and smuggling.

“By coming together under one roof and sharing expertise, we are now better prepared, more capable, and one step ahead in confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal networks,” Masemola said.

He told the delegates attending the meeting that South Africa remains firmly committed to strengthening regional stability and security.

“Gatherings such as these are not ceremonial engagements they are strategic platforms. They facilitate direct collaboration, intelligence sharing and the development of proactive responses to emerging criminal trends,” he said.

He said the meetings were an important tool in dismantling the work of organised crime syndicates.

“By coming together under one roof and sharing expertise, we are now better prepared, more capable, and one step ahead in confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

“In South Africa, we are doing all we can to dislodge the work of organised crime syndicates, we continue to intensify efforts against the syndicates operating within the nine identified focus areas through weekly operations,” the General said.

Masemola said in terms of addressing the proliferation of firearms, in South Africa authorities conduct stop-and-search operations, roadblocks, tracing initiatives and targeted intelligence-driven interventions.

“On average, we seize no fewer than 120 firearms per week. Just this past week, we confiscated 173 firearms, the previous week, 147 and the week before that, 142 unlicensed firearms,” he said.

Masemola said they have destroyed 13 859 firearms as part of the annual destruction process. 

“Over the past seven years, the SAPS has permanently removed more than 305 000 firearms from circulation. These weapons were either seized during operations or voluntarily surrendered,” he said.

On drug trafficking, Masemola told the delegates that at OR Tambo International Airport, a primary gateway into Africa, they have arrested more than 20 drug mules in recent operations.

“Many originate from São Paulo, Brazil, and smuggle drugs by swallowing them. Through intelligence-led policing, we intercept these individuals and follow due legal and medical processes to recover the drugs.

“Most of our arrests through our weekly operations are those that were found in possession of drugs. Just this past four months, we arrested more than 33 000 suspects who were found in possession of drugs,” Masemola said. – SAnews.gov.za