By: Freight news south Africa

A Regional Leader in Criminal Markets

According to the 2025 Africa Organised Crime Index, South Africa has the highest criminal markets score in southern Africa. The nation's ports and bonded warehouses are identified as primary enablers for widespread drug trafficking, counterfeit goods, and arms smuggling, establishing the country as a major hub for illicit activities.

The Metrics of Illicit Activity

The index, published by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, ranks South Africa first among 13 regional nations. It scores 7.7 out of 10 for criminal actors, indicating a strong presence of influential criminal networks. While South Africa also has the region's highest resilience score (5.67), this is insufficient to counteract the pervasive criminal markets.

Ports as Critical Hubs

The ports of Durban and Cape Town are highlighted as critical hubs for organized crime. The report notes that corruption within these ports and associated warehouses facilitates the smooth entry of illicit goods. Large-scale cocaine seizures in Durban underscore the country's role as a key transit point in transnational drug trafficking networks connecting South America to Europe and Asia.

A Multi-Faceted Illicit Economy

Beyond cocaine, South Africa hosts one of the continent's largest heroin markets, supplied from Afghanistan via Mozambique and Tanzania. The country is also a primary destination for counterfeit goods and faces a significant illicit trade in tobacco and alcohol. Furthermore, arms trafficking is fueled by both cross-border smuggling and the theft of firearms from domestic legal markets.

The Challenge of State-Embedded Criminals

A significant challenge is the deep infiltration of criminal actors within the state, for which South Africa scored 8 out of 10. The legacy of state capture has left institutions vulnerable, with corruption permeating various levels of governance. This environment has fostered politically motivated assassinations as a tool for securing economic and political interests.