Three African countries including South Africa have joined forces to combat transnational drug trafficking crimes.
The Trilateral Planning Cell (TPC) is meant to regulate and monitor the millions of drugs making their way into Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.
The engagement between the ministers of each country is supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC).
National Police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said they were positive that the cooperative approach will succeed in combating the on going drug trade.
Last month, the Institute for Security Studies’ Martin Ewi said there had been a worrying increase in drugs being transported via our ports and airports, and a noticeable pattern particularly from countries such as Mozambique.
Mathe said the creation of the TPC meant greater coordination between land, sea and air (agencies) against the entry of the drugs into the three countries.
“We are confident that the TPC continues to disrupt and dismantle syndicates involved in transnational and drug trafficking crimes,” she said.
“The Trilateral Planning Cell was established to counter the influx of heroin in Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.
“The TPC is represented by members of these trilateral states with a unified objective to disrupt organised crime networks operating on the maritime western coast of the Indian Ocean.
“Since 2019, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania have been signatories to a Statement of Understanding through a Trilateral Planning Cell(TPC).
“The Trilateral Planning Cell is responsible for the coordination of joint operations at sea, air and land ports of entry between the three countries.
“With its base in Mozambique, the Trilateral Planning Cell seeks to ensure regional cooperation and the implementation of practical solutions in the fight against large scale drug trafficking by setting out practical steps in disrupting as well as deterring organised criminal networks associated with the heroin trade into and or via the three countries.”
Mathe said before the Cell was formed they had a high influx of drugs moving from country to country: “Prior to the establishment of the TPC, the three countries experienced large volumes of heroin entering the region. The Heroin was mostly shipped by means of dhows (small vessels), crossing the Indian Ocean and transiting the coast line to the trilateral countries. The drugs would thereafter be shipped to a number of destinations across the world.
“Following the establishment of the Trilateral strategy, the Tripartite Alliance has notably made inroads in disrupting and dismantling these organised criminal networks.”
Ewi previously stated that Mozambique had featured strongly in previous shipments through Durban, but the question was whether other transient countries were involved.
The recent increase in the number of seizures could also be the result of increased capacity or improved tactics of law enforcement.
“Whatever the case maybe is a signal that more needs to be done to fight drug trafficking and smuggling in South Africa,” he said.
“The ENACT Organised Crime Index, which measures the intensity of organised crime in Africa, indicates that drug trafficking and smuggling is one of the biggest criminal economies in Southern Africa, particularly South Africa.”