ORGANISED CRIME in cross-border activities is at a high level and is proving one of the most serious problems in the workings of the National Inter-Departmental Structure for Border Control (NIDS).
They are highly sophisticated operators and we have to try and keep a step ahead of them at all times, says NIDS executive director Brian van Niekerk.
We know they have seminars in the same way that we do. They hold workshops and are organised to match our actions all the way.
Throughout South Africa there are two forms of crime today, organised and chance. There is nothing chancy about what these people are about. We know, for instance, that a meeting was held in the Northern Province recently where it was agreed that matters were getting too hot for them at Beit Bridge, so they arranged to switch their activities to other lesser posts.
But we have our ways of getting information and we find we are targeting their movements more successfully these days. We aren't near the end of the road, however. We are aware that we are losing far too much, not only from those in the smuggling operations but also those engaged in round-tripping where they defraud the VAT system.
But a more focused approach has been adopted by all concerned, the police, customs and revenue services, and gradually we are gaining the upper hand.
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