Intensified efforts to combat cross border crime bearing fruit
JOINT operations between South Africa and Mozambique, aimed at clamping down on cross-border crime are bearing fruit as tens of thousands of rands worth of drugs have been recovered since early last year, and numerous stolen vehicles returned to their rightful owners.
This after the two countries embarked on a Joint Action Plan in February 2023 to conduct joint investigations and combine intelligence and resources to arrest criminals, with aims to address transnational crime in both countries.
This led to the formation of a Bilateral Technical Working Group, which consists of commanding officers from both South Africa and Mozambique, including heads of detectives, border policing and crime intelligence.
National Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Joint Action Plan also aims to renew joint cross-border operations and combatting narcotics, kidnapping, drug and human trafficking, as well as terrorism threats.
“It allows two countries to strengthen policing actions to combat transnational organised crime, particularly vehicle theft,” said Mathe.
She said, with regards to the repatriation of vehicles, a task team is to be established to confirm the exact number of impounded vehicles.
“Senior officials must conduct investigations aimed at identifying and arresting those behind the vehicle theft and other serious crimes.”
These include vehicles that were set alight in KZN last year; tracking and tracing of wanted criminals for extradition; exchange of crime intelligence on criminal networks; convening of technical and operational meetings at both provincial and national level, and combining operational activities where Mozambique and South Africa work towards joint operations.
Regular meetings
On Monday and Tuesday, Police Minister Beki Cele and his Mozambican counterpart, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Mozambique, General Pedro Ronda concluded a two-day Ministerial Bilateral meeting in Maputo.
This was preceded by senior officials, led by national commissioner General Fannie Masemola and his Mozambican counterpart, Inspector General Bernardino Rafael, and senior officers from both countries.
The Joint Action Plan aims to ensure officials from both countries meet regularly to conduct joint border operations to address, among others, crime challenges common to both countries, including vehicle theft syndicates, drug trafficking and kidnappings.
Mathe added that it was encouraging to note that since February last year, drugs worth more than R98m were recovered in crossborder operations.
“At least 23 vehicles have been successfully handed over to South African owners. Joint operations are being conducted and patrolling of hot spot areas is taking place,” she said.
“Kidnapping for ransom breakthroughs has also been recorded since our February meeting, where a key mastermind has been apprehended in South Africa - authorities believe he is behind a spate of kidnappings.
“He is due to be extradited to Mozambique and the matter is being pursued with relevant authorities,” said Mathe.
She further explained that since the formation of the task team in February last year, over 140 suspects linked to cross-border vehicle theft syndicates in the Manguzi area have been arrested, and over 64 vehicles have been recovered.
“Some firearms and rifles used in the commission of some of these crimes in the area have also been recovered during operations,” said Mathe.