Smuggling Illicit Contraband
The crime level in South Africa is virtually doubling annually. Therefore, most South Africans wouldn't feel comfortable carrying large sums of cash on their person due to the risk of potentially being robbed. In fact most of them wouldn't dream of transporting more than 100 thousand rands personally. They would rather use bank transfers to move money unless they have something to hide. So, who in their right mind would honestly believed that they could smuggle large sums of money through airport customs checkpoints by just covering it up with cloths, hopping not to get caught.Controversy
Contrary to popular believe, there are some controversial people who would in fact do just that, though it is completely legal to take R25,000 or less out of the country. However, the question that begs to be answered is, Is this real money or is it counterfeit? My reasoning is, that if fake South African money is sent to and spent in foreign counties, where International Shopping Centers and people in general do not know the security features built into the South African Currency, they would uncerimoniously accept it as legal tender. The same applies to US dollars. If for example, US Dollars are distributed in Dubai, where US Dollars are readily accepted, few people would realise that they've been conned until its too late.
Follow the money
About three months ago, a 27 year old man was nabbed at OR Tambo International Airport preventing him from departing for Mauritius. Acting on intelligence or rather a "tip-off", his luggage was intercepted by Gauteng police and searched. After rummaging through his suitcases customs officials found 10 "cigarette carton sized" packs collectively containing R6,993 million in bank notes. The cash was made up of $199.300 US dollars and R4.5m South African rands. The contraband was impounded by the forfeiture unit and the suspect was arrested and charged with contravening the Customs and Excise Act. He appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court the following Monday considering the arrest happened on the Friday before.Counterfeits - Funny Money
Based on my assumtion that I voiced above, it doesn't make logic sense for anyone to be in possesion of R2 million worth of US Dollars in cash in South Africa of all palces, unless its funny money. So as much as the above controversial case and those below made the headlines, it could be a ploy of some criminal syndicate to keep the SAPS, SSA, DPCI and the Hawks busy, chasing their own tails, while the real action is happening elsewhere.Hardly 5 months later, two people were once again arrested at OR Tambo International Airport with undeclared US currency worth more than R6 million. Customs officials intercepted the passengers as they were about to board their flight enroute to Dubai. When their luggage was inspected, two manilla envelopes containing $83 000 US Dollars was found hidden under their clothing. The money was seized and criminal charges of "failure to declare as well as currency smuggling" has been opened against both passengers.
US Dollars
Once again, its a cache of US Dollars found in South Africa trying to make its way to Dubai specifically. In September 2018 alone, there going to be 68 Trade Fairs taking place in Dubai. Whoever has a stall at any of those Trade Fairs would be fair game for these "smugglers" of counterfeit money. Why they even call it funny money is beyond me because its really not funny when you realize that you've been hoodwinked out of your possessions in exchange for paper not fit to be even used in a toilet.Some six months later a 38-year-old Pietermaritzburg man was arrested at Cape Town International Airport whilst trying to take more than R10 million with him to the United Arab Emirates. The Hawk’s Serious Commercial Crime Unit seized the cash and and arrested him. He subsequently appeared in Bellville Magistrate’s Court for contravening the Customs and Excise Act 91/1994 by failing to declare the money.
By now you should be on my wavelength regarding taking large sums of money to the middle east. In the above case there wasn't any dollars involved but that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be a buyer who would readily buy up this money at a quarter or third of its real value.
South African Rands
About a year prior, a 30-year-old man was arrested at King Shaka International Airport in Durban with more than R12 million of undeclared cash in his luggage. Apparently the Airport Police received a "tip-off" about a certain passenger who would be leaving South Africa with a large sum of money, this, after he already boarded the plane. After his luggage was offloaded, his bags were scanned and all 7 bags showed proof of hidden currency. The bags were subsequently opened in his presence and upon counting it, the currency amounted to a cool R12 229 200 South African Rands. The dude was placed under arrest and appeared in the Verulam Magistrate's Court on charges of contravention of the currency and exchange act.The above case also doesn't involve any US Dollars. So like I said before, there may be a buyer if it is counterfeit, but what if it isn't. Having said that, there has been a spate of "cash in transit heists" over the past year. I understand that banks record all bank note serial numbers before it is shipped anywere, so if this "counterfeit money" is genuine South African money, it may in fact be the spoils of "cash in transit heists" . It may be the thieves way of attempting to render the serial numbers of the bank notes untraceable by getting them out of the country.
As recent as yesterday, a female student enroute to Hong Kong was arrested by South African Revenue Service (Sars) officials as she boarded a flight at OR Tambo International Airport. She had bundles of US dollars to the value of nearly R10 million in cash in her hand luggage. After counting the cash, it amounted to $630 700. When questioned, she admitted that she had $650 000 US dollars in her backpack but that it didn't belong to her's par se. Neither could she identify who the cash actually belonged to. She was booked for currency smuggling and for failure to declare it.
In the above case, we only have US dollars, more than 600 000 of them. Of all the currencies in the world, it appears that US Dollars are the easiest to counterfeit. Not because it only has two colours and its security features aren't very high, but because it has a favourable exchange rate hence and presents no big challenge for the skilled counterfeiter.
Counterfeiters
Having said all that, not too long ago three men were arrested in Pretoria. They were found in possession of a substantial amount of suspected counterfeit bank notes. Acting on a "tip-off", the local police raided a unit inside a block of flats and arrested the suspects. They had stored the counterfeit bank in a lock-garage, packed into stacks of bags and boxes. The cash resembled US dollars and South African rands and amounted to $1.4 million but appeared to be of a low quality.I rest my case!
A collaboration between Acsa (the Airports Company of SA), SAPS (SA Police Service), Asset Forfeiture Unit (NPA), DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) and the State Security Agency (SSA) are dealing with illicit cash and contraband flowing through our South African gateways and borders.
