NCJ Number
200861
Journal
Crime and Justice International Volume: 19 Issue: 73 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 11-14
Date Published
May 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article forccuses on organized crime and its prevention in Southern Africa.
Abstract
Organized crime in Southern Africa traditionally operates in conjunction with legitimate commercial activities, and this characteristic makes policing crime in South Africa particularly difficult. Tracing the origins of organized crime in South Africa to the late 1980’s influx of foreigners to the region, the author suggests that various import-export operations and local entrepreneurs provide a vehicle for the development of complex networks of organized crime. Organized crime in Southern Africa tends to be conducted by small family, ethnic, or community oriented groups, and criminal networks are often developed in Southern Africa by individuals seeking to fund wars and war related activities. Surprisingly, there have been successful regional attempts at controlling crime in Southern Africa. The Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-Operation Organization (SARPCCO), formed in 1995, has generated much cooperation among various police agencies, making it easier to identify and prevent organized crime rings from taking further hold in Southern Africa. 8 Notes