In some regards, South Africa is stable. Our financial systems are in place. But on the other hand, we have slight instabilities that attracts very organised crime members from all over the world. You see, South Africa is both a source as well as a destination point for various criminal interests such as drugs, gold, diamonds, money laundering, ivory, abalone, lobster, goods stolen in robberies, cigarettes, credit cards and identity documents.  For narcotics and cigarettes, we are the destination, and for ivory, abalone and lobster, we’re the source. And property? Perfect for laundering money.

But, unlike the traditional Italian mobs, the networks that find themselves in South Africa don’t have a don to dish out orders. Instead, the industry is constantly changing and is extremely difficult to track and investigate, and they work with ‘specialist’ criminals to ply their trade.

Both local and international syndicates are cashing in on the chaos of our country. Security Studies policing expert Johan Burger explains his research:

The success of foreign organised-crime gangs in South Africa depended on their ability to network with our criminals, who are incredibly entrepreneurial. The links are both formal and informal, with groups banding together to open up new markets. They use specialists in armed robberies and those who deal in stolen goods, weapons, people and drugs.

One of the latest of these criminals to be caught is Shai Musli, who is the alleged head of one of the most feared crime families in Israel.

He appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday and is now under guard at an undisclosed Gauteng prison. He has been hiding out in South Africa since 2012.

According to prosecutor Christo Steyn, the alleged crimes for which Israel is seeking his extradition include murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Although foreign gangs are highly concerning, and hail from countries such as Bulgaria, China, Pakistan, India, Asia and West Africa, it’s the South African gangs we need to be concerned about.

They look at countries like business owners do, except they also look at the strength of law enforcement and whether there are extradition treaties with their home countries and good criminal networks.

And the capitals of these crime worlds? Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Cape Town’s criminal underworld is far more organised, with gangs involved in drugs and protection through extortion, with foreign syndicates using their money to buy luxury properties.

Johannesburg gangs are far more diverse, focusing on different crimes, including hijackings, armed robberies, illicit gold and diamond dealing and drugs.

In Durban, organised crime centred on drugs and armed robberies, while Port Elizabeth gangs were similar to those in Cape Town.

Shai Musli’s family has allegedly rained terror on Tel Aviv, using their apparent connections to the global criminal underworld, including South Africa’s, to remove rivals and expand their empire.

[source: timeslive]