Dedicated team helps cargo owners reclaim their stolen goods

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