| 2025/03/03 |
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Keynote address by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General SF Masemola (SOEG) at the Transnational Organised Crime Strategic Planning Session Southern Sun Hotel, Pretoria, 3 March 2025
Thank you Programme Director,
The Minister of Police, Hon Senzo Mchunu, MP Good morning! It is an honour to address you today as we gather to confront one of the most complex and evolving threats of our time – Transnational Organised Crime (TOC). Our collective mission is clear: to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks that undermine security, stability and prosperity across borders. TOC is no longer confined to isolated regions or specific illicit markets. It thrives in a world interconnected by technology, trade and finance. Human trafficking, drug smuggling, cybercrime, illegal arms trade, environmental crimes and financial fraud have created an intricate web of illicit activities, posing threats to governments, economies and communities. Ladies and gentlemen, criminal enterprises are adaptive, using sophisticated methods such as cryptocurrency, laundering, deepfake technology and encrypted communication. They exploit jurisdictional gaps, weak regulatory frameworks and corruption making international cooperation not just an option but a necessity. Though we are here to form a strategy that aligns with that of the SADC, South Africa has not been sitting idle as all these networks affect us. In February, four suspects aged between 20 and 40 were arrested on charges of among others, Trafficking in persons. Their modus operandi was to lure people with promises of a better life. One lady who fell victim to this, tells us that when she got to the premises, the recruiter was paid and the victim bought food and clothes. Things turned sour when she was fed drugs and forced to perform acts of a sexual nature and clean the house. A joint operation was conducted and two house were raided where the four suspects were arrested. In another incident, the SAPS’ Special Task Force unit rescued 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were allegedly being kept against their will and under inhumane conditions in Sunnydale Ridge, Johannesburg. A multidisciplinary team led by the STF were tracing a victim of kidnapping for ransom when they also made the discovery of the undocumented nationals who were found locked up, confined and packed into rooms. The Ethiopian nationals were all taken to hospital for medical care and two alleged human traffickers and kidnappers who were found on the property were arrested. When it comes to drugs, since 2024 we have arrested about 20 drug mules at the OR Tambo International Airport. Just recently we arrested two South African nationals for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International airport and seized cocaine with an estimated street value of R7.5 million. In December of 2024, we arrested drug traffickers on different occasions, at the same airport. One of them, a Brazilian drug mule, was found in possession of over 4kg cocaine in his luggage while a medical x-ray confirmed the presence of drug “bullets” swallowed by the other drug mule. This was sort of phenomenon at that stage, and we would take the drug mules to hospital sot they get help in expelling the “bullets”. 15 bullets were released. In another incident, still in December a 43 year old Paraguayan drug mule had just landed from Sao Paulo when she was arrested for drug trafficking. She was taken to a local hospital where a medical x-ray revealed the presence of foreign objects in her stomach. A total of 33 drug bullets containing cocaine were subsequently released. In that month alone we made four arrests intercepted at OR Tambo International airport. The Durban harbour in KwaZulu-Natal has seen some of our biggest drug busts in the past year. Let me single out an SAPS intelligence led operation, which had our intelligence structure work with other intelligence structures from countries abroad for a two month period, the culmination of which was the recovery of cocaine which was hidden and transported in paint containers. The containers were from Brazil and destined to South Africa, where they would be the then transported to Gauteng and there, the distribution would take place. The cocaine was worth over R8O million. In the SAPS’ commitment to detecting and permanently removing illegal firearms and ammunition from circulation, a total of 16 049 firearms and firearm parts were destroyed in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng recently, during our second destruction process of the 2024/2025 financial year. 12 502 of those destroyed were handguns while 1 921 were rifles, 1 305 shotguns, and 47 combination firearms. In six years, the SAPS has destroyed more than 279 000 firearms in a bid to make our streets more safer. As you can see, the scale and impact of these crimes are staggering. Yet, despite the growing complexity of these threats, our responses must remain unwavering. We cannot afford complacency, we must act decisively, collaboratively and innovatively. Ladies and gentlemen, the fight against transnational organised crime is not one nation’s burden – it is a shared global responsibility. We must reinforce our partnerships, innovate our strategies and remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and security. Together, we can dismantle criminal networks, protect our economics and ensure a safer future for generations to come. As we sit and strategize these coming five days, let us do so knowing that more needs to be done to achieve more success. I thank you!
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