HIJACKING syndicates are taking South African vehicles across the border into neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Swaziland, Eswatini, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Speaking to eNCA, crime expert Calvin Rafadi said that car smuggling is being assisted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) officials who are in collusion with border patrols.
These officials assist the criminals in fulfilling the necessary documents to clear the cars across the border. SAPS’ latest crime statistics show that 5 866 hijackings were reported across the country between April and June 2022 — a 14 percent increase from the 5 146 hijackings reported over the same period in 2021.
This year-on-year increase in hijacking reports means that a car is estimated to be stolen every 22 minutes in South Africa (SA). Vehicle tracking company Tracker said that car theft is up seven percent nationally by volume, with hijackings up four percent over the previous review period.
“The elevation can partly be attributed to increased vehicle usage following a return to work and more numerous social occasions, as well as new modus operandi on the part of criminals and crime syndicates, such as keyless access theft,” said Tracker.
Rafadi said that the ratio to which hijackings occur and a vehicle is actually recovered is very low. Crime syndicates dedicated to stealing vehicles receive orders for a certain type of car; such orders are then fulfi lled by ‘foot soldiers’ based in SA.
Once a car has made it across the border, either through the normal border post or through a hole cut in the fence, the syndicates are paid in foreign currency or illicit goods such as chemicals to make drugs or tobacco.
He said that luxury vehicles or big SUVs are the most common that get smuggled, and orders are put out for them, whereas smaller sedans or cars such as the VW polo will sometimes remain in the country and be sold domestically. In-depth insight provided by SABC News found that these syndicates are extremely violent and, in some cases, kidnap those who may be in the car.
Victims’ movements are often tracked so that criminals can predict the best time to take a vehicle. According to an anonymous ex-car smuggler, members of the syndicate often carry two identifi cation documents so as to fool border patrols and deny involvement in a crime. — businesstech.co.za