On Sunday 02 March, senior law enforcement officials, industry leaders, and regional partners gathered to address the growing threat of transnational organised crime (TOC). The high-level engagement, attended by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, SADC Senior Police Officer Sello Moerane, and representatives from Interpol, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), focused on strengthening regional cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and operational responses to combat illicit networks operating across borders.
General Masemola stated that TOC is no longer confined to specific regions or industries but has become a global phenomenon driven by technology, trade, and finance. Criminal syndicates are using advanced methods such as cryptocurrency, encrypted communications, and deepfake technology to evade law enforcement, exploiting weak regulatory frameworks and jurisdictional gaps. He stressed that combating these networks is no longer an option but a necessity, as TOC threatens security, economic stability, and governance.
While the conference focused on a regional strategy aligned with SADC’s goals, Masemola highlighted that South Africa has been actively disrupting criminal networks through law enforcement operations. He detailed recent successes, including the arrest of four individuals involved in human trafficking who lured victims with false job offers, only to drug and force them into servitude. In a separate operation, SAPS’ Special Task Force rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were being held under inhumane conditions in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg, during a raid that also uncovered a kidnapping-for-ransom operation.
Drug trafficking remains a critical focus, with SAPS having arrested 20 drug mules at OR Tambo International Airport since 2024. In December, a Brazilian suspect was caught with over four kilograms of cocaine in his luggage, while a Paraguayan national was arrested after swallowing 33 cocaine-filled capsules. Intelligence-led operations at Durban Harbour resulted in the seizure of cocaine worth over R80 million, smuggled in paint containers from Brazil and destined for distribution in Gauteng.
Illegal firearms remain a significant challenge, and SAPS has ramped up efforts to remove them from circulation. Recently, 16,049 firearms were destroyed in Vanderbijlpark, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Over the past six years, more than 279,000 illegal firearms have been destroyed as part of ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime. Masemola noted that while these statistics highlight major progress, the fight against organised crime requires continuous vigilance and regional collaboration.
Head of Interpol’s Regional Bureau, Sello Moerane underscored the importance of co-ordinated regional responses. He commended South Africa’s approach in broadening the conversation beyond law enforcement to include private sector partners and civil society, reinforcing that TOC cannot be tackled in isolation. The SADC Integrated Strategy to Prevent and Combat TOC aims to establish a structured regional approach, ensuring all member states align their intelligence-sharing mechanisms and enforcement efforts.
A key outcome of the conference is the formation of a National Task Force, which will integrate multiple agencies to improve intelligence co-ordination and cross-border crime prevention. This national effort will contribute to the development of a Regional Task Force, designed to unify responses to organised crime across Southern Africa. The strategy will strengthen data collection and intelligence-sharing, ensuring law enforcement agencies operate with a common understanding of TOC threats.
Recognising South Africa’s role as a regional economic hub, Masemola highlighted the country’s vulnerability to TOC networks seeking to exploit trade infrastructure, financial systems, and governance loopholes. The 2023 ENACT-ISS Crime Index ranked South Africa as the most resilient country in the region but also one of the most targeted by organised crime syndicates. With high-value trade routes and a complex financial sector, the country remains a focal point for illicit activities that require a well-coordinated national and regional response.
The importance of border security was also discussed, with a focus on expanding Interpol’s policing capabilities in Southern Africa. SAPS, through NCB Pretoria, has been urged to enhance database interoperability, particularly at ports of entry, to ensure law enforcement agencies can track and intercept criminal activity more efficiently. Interpol reaffirmed its commitment to assisting in all operational matters, ensuring that the region’s crime-fighting capabilities are fully aligned.
As discussions continue over the next five days, stakeholders are expected to develop concrete recommendations for improving intelligence-sharing, dismantling criminal networks, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. Masemola stated that fighting TOC is not the responsibility of a single country but a shared global challenge requiring cooperation and strategic interventions. He urged regional partners to remain committed to dismantling illicit networks, protecting economic stability, and ensuring a safer future for all.
The conference marks a critical step in reinforcing Southern Africa’s resilience against organised crime, with a renewed focus on intelligence-driven operations and regional collaboration. Masemola concluded by reiterating that complacency is not an option, and the fight against TOC must be met with unwavering determination, innovation, and unity.
