South Africa is facing growing concerns over the expansion of organised crime as security analysts warn that international drug trafficking networks are increasingly establishing operations inside the country.
The warning follows several major drug seizures in recent months, including the confiscation of narcotics valued at approximately R1 billion. According to researchers, these high-profile operations may represent only a small portion of the illicit drug trade moving through South Africa.
Drug Production Expands As International Networks Arrive
Institute for Security Studies (ISS) researcher Willem Els said recent discoveries suggest that South Africa’s illicit drug manufacturing industry has grown significantly over the past two years.
Authorities have uncovered clandestine drug laboratories in Groblersdal, Standerton and near Rustenburg, pointing to an expanding domestic production network.
Els said one of the most significant developments has been the reported involvement of foreign specialists linked to Mexican drug trafficking organisations.
According to him, cartel-affiliated chemists have reportedly travelled to South Africa to assist with manufacturing methamphetamine, commonly known locally as tik, as well as chemical substances used to produce nyaope, a highly addictive street drug.
He also highlighted South Africa’s unusually strong market for Mandrax, a drug that has largely disappeared in many other parts of the world but remains widely consumed in several South African communities.
The relatively low production costs, easy access to precursor chemicals and affordability of the drug continue to sustain demand, particularly in economically vulnerable areas.
Experts Call For Long-Term Strategy
Els said gang activity continues to drive drug distribution in areas such as the Cape Flats in the Western Cape, while similar criminal networks remain active in parts of the Northern Cape, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
He warned that discoveries of illegal laboratories likely represent only a fraction of the country’s total drug production.
Based on international law enforcement estimates, authorities generally intercept around 30% of illicit shipments, leaving the majority of drugs circulating through criminal networks.
According to Els, international trafficking organisations have increasingly shifted operations towards countries where enforcement pressure is perceived to be lower.
He argued that South Africa’s high levels of violent crime, governance challenges and longstanding organised criminal activity have created conditions that allow sophisticated international syndicates to expand their operations.
While welcoming recent efforts to strengthen organised crime investigations, Els said policing alone would not be sufficient.
He called for greater investment in crime intelligence, specialised investigative capacity, forensic resources and mentorship programmes to ensure experienced detectives can train the next generation of investigators.
Security experts argue that tackling organised crime will require coordinated action involving law enforcement, government institutions and communities over the short, medium and long term.
They say sustained investment in intelligence capabilities and institutional capacity will be essential if South Africa hopes to disrupt increasingly sophisticated international criminal networks.
Source: Institute for Security Studies (ISS); BizNews