The rules of supply and
demand apply as much
to the crime business as
to any other.
Given this, according to
Ernest Walters, director of
International Risk & Security
Management (IRSM),
understanding cross-border
crime trends requires an
understanding of the economic
outlook in a region that fuels the
need for goods.
“The decline of economies
opens up markets for cheaper
goods that can be found in
stronger economies such as
SA,” he said. Also, he added,
economic growth can mean that
demand for certain products
increases – and creates a huge
black market for them.
It is with this in mind that one
has to look at crime trends, he
added.
“We see there is a need for
goods ranging from cigarettes
to electronic devices and even
food, and these goods are often
acquired by means of hijackings.
We can see the rise of this in
the latest official police crime
report. And if we look at the
current trends there is unlikely
to be any real decline in these
stats in the near future.”
A large portion of these goods
are going across the SA border to
the rest of Africa.
“There are varied successes
in the recovery of goods,”
says Walters. “This is due to
countries’ differing laws and
bureaucracy. The tracking of
the stolen or hijacked trucks is
a problem, with infrastructure
sometimes being absent – and
getting local law enforcement
agencies involved can be a real
challenge.”
He said that taking this
into consideration, IRSM had
established a dedicated team
to help cargo owners through
the varying process of different
countries’ legal requirements.
“As far as possible we will
represent the client and arrange
for the safe return of their goods
or truck and trailer. Only when
there is no other way will the
client be involved in the process.
This is usually at the end of all
the legal negotiations,” he added.
INSERT & CAPTION
As far as possible we will
represent the client and
arrange for the safe return
of their goods or truck and
trailer.
– Ernest Walters
