Smuggling on the rise as kingpins evade arrest

MOSES MATENGA

Billions of dollars is being lost to smuggling of goods through the porous border posts amid fears that lack of political will and corruption is fuelling illicit deals at the points of entry particularly Beitbridge, it has emerged.

The lack of adequate security is also facilitating entrance and exits for criminals running away from the long arm of the law.

This, observers say, has seen high level armed gangs taking time into either Zimbabwe or South Africa to commit targeted crimes.

Yusuf Abramjee, a South African based anti crime activist and founder of Tax Justice South African told Business Times this week that there has been a rise in criminal activities involving foreign nationals in Zimbabwe’s neighbouring country adding this has become a significant source of concern for several reasons.

He said foreign nationals in South Africa are involved in a range of offences, from petty theft and fraud to more serious crimes like drug trafficking, human trafficking, organised crime, and violent offences.

“The issue of porous borders, and the Beitbridge border post in particular, exacerbates these challenges. The lack of adequate security at border crossings, including insufficient staffing, inadequate technology, and vulnerabilities to corruption has created opportunities for criminal elements to operate with relative impunity,” he said.

“This allows for the easy entry and exit of individuals, the smuggling of illicit goods and the transportation of stolen property.”

He said the Beitbridge border post, being a particularly busy and strategically important entry point, is vulnerable to exploitation.

He said there is lack of political will do deal with these challenges.

“The lack of political will and commitment to prioritising border security can contribute to the problem. This can manifest in a failure to implement necessary reforms, address corruption, and allocate sufficient resources.”

“The consequences of these failures are far-reaching. They include an increase in major crimes, the facilitation of transnational criminal networks, and a negative impact on South Africa’s economy and social stability.”

“Addressing these issues requires a multi-pronged approach, including increased investment in border security, enhanced intelligence gathering, improved international cooperation, and a strong commitment to combating corruption within government agencies.”

Abramjee added : “Justice SA has repeatedly highlighted the smuggling of tobacco products from Zimbabwe into SA. While some arrests have been made, the kingpins are still not arrested,” he added.

“This is organised crime. It’s of major concern. The RG brand is being smuggled into SA on a large scale.”

He said the porous borders are a problem while corruption is also rife.

“There needs to be urgent interventions to stop the smuggling.”

On smuggling of tobacco, he said : “We don’t have exact numbers but losses run into billions of rands annually because of smuggling.”

He added that there are also several issues affecting investigations of criminal activities involving foreign nationals.

“The involvement of foreign nationals can further complicate investigations due to jurisdictional issues, language barriers, and difficulties in accessing information from other countries,” he said.

“The perception of increased crime, regardless of actual statistical fluctuations, can erode public trust in law enforcement and potentially fuel xenophobic sentiments,” he added.

He said several challenges hinder effective responses to this problem.

 “These include complex Investigations and investigating crimes involving foreign nationals frequently necessitates international cooperation. This can be time-consuming and challenging due to differing legal frameworks, extradition processes, and limitations on sharing intelligence.”

“South Africa’s law enforcement agencies may face capacity limitations in terms of personnel, resources, and specialized training to effectively address transnational crime. This includes a shortage of investigators fluent in various languages and familiar with the cultural nuances relevant to certain foreign national groups.”

“Corruption within law enforcement and border control agencies can significantly impede efforts to combat criminal activities. Collusion between corrupt officials and criminal elements can facilitate the movement of illicit goods and individuals across borders and hinder investigations.”

He said identifying and successfully prosecuting foreign nationals involved in criminal activities can be challenging.

“This involves ensuring proper identification, verifying legal status, and navigating potential challenges related to legal representation and due process.”

“The legal processes involved in deporting foreign nationals convicted of crimes are often protracted and complex, which can allow them to remain in the country for extended periods.”