Organised crime,

Globalisation of
crime
CRIM 1514

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Focus Areas

• National Organised Criminal Groups

Organised • Transnational Organised Criminal
Groups
Crime

• Organ Trafficking
Globalisation • Human Trafficking
of Crime • Drug Trafficking

2
Outcomes
✓Define and understand organised crime and its characteristics
✓Explain the different types of national groups in South Africa
✓Differentiate between the different South African Numbers gangs
✓Describe the difference between national and transnational groups
✓Understand the different transnational groups: Nigerian Crime Syndicate, the
Pakistani Mafia and the Chinese Triad
✓Differentiate between organ, human and drug trafficking

3
Organised crime
National Organised Criminal Groups
Transnational Organised Criminal Groups
Organised Crime
• Definition: The unlawful and intentional systematic commission of crime that is motivated by power or
profit (Bezuidenhout, 2011:279)
• Crimes which are often associated with Organised Crime fall under ’Economic Crimes’ when it comes to
the Department of Correctional Services crime categories.

Department of Correctional Services Crime Categories:

Violent Crime

Sexual Offences

Economic Crimes

Drug Related Offences

• For the purpose of this lecture, we will be looking at national and transnational organised criminal
groups

5
According to the SAPS, organised criminal activities consist of some or all of the
following characteristics:

3 or more people
involved

Involves a serious
Division of labor
criminal offence

Committed for a
Hierarchy present
prolonged period

Pursuit of profit /
power as motive

6
 Organised Criminal Groups
• National organised criminal groups can be defined as • Transnational organised criminal groups can be
groups of nationals from a specific country of origin defined as groups of foreign nationals or individuals
(Bezuidenhout, 2011:279).
• National organised criminal groups are likely to
have a hierarchy of control with designated
systems of promotion and payment for specific
ranks and crimes committed
• They often conduct their crimes through a
sophisticated procedures such as legitimate
business interests which is often done to launder
money obtained through the offences the group
has committed
• Crime committed by national organised crime
groups are committed more frequently during
period of politic transition and when state
resources are concentrated in certain areas only
(like unemployment, roads etc.)
from the country of origin who are involved in cross-
border crimes (Bezuidenhout, 2011:279).
• Transnational organised criminal groups are
likely to have a varying hierarchy of control,
depending on where they operate and how
close they operate to the highest ranking
• These groups often conduct crime to obtain
power, wealth and influence in the countries
they operate in
• They operate across international borders and
often use legitimate businesses to mask the
crimes they commit, these are often larger
companies that are most likely in the transport
business such as shipping or flight cargo
7
Organised Criminal Groups

• Many organised crime groups exist globally

• Some are internationally recognised such as the Italian mafia, The Columbian and
Mexican drug cartels, The Russian mafia, Nigerian drug syndicates and the Chinese
Triads

The term mafia is derived from Sicilian-Arabic language whereby it means to

protect and/or defend and act as a guardian, friend or companion
(Bezuidenhout, 2011:279)

The term triad is used to refer to crime syndicates that originate in China. In
Chinese symbolism, the three sides of an equilateral triangle represents heaven,
earth and humankind (Bezuidenhout, 2011:279)

8
Hierarchy of National crime Groups
• Wealthy leaders of larger criminal groups

The Criminal Elite • They grew up in similar backgrounds to the lower levels (unskilled members) with poor families
• With an increase in the hierarchal structure and personal wealth, they own legal businesses and
acquired properties in affluent properties

Middleman • The individuals constitute as second tier of larger groups

• Often operate on the local drug market

Semi-skilled • This is the group of individuals who provide a service for the gang
• In exchange for money, drugs or women

Members • Corrupt police officials, bodyguards, debt collectors, and advisors

Unskilled members • Lower-ranking gang members

• Receive little financial reward
• In order to supplement their income, they commit petty offences
(Gangsters) • Important part of the hierarchy as they represent the consumers of illegal goods

9
South African Gangs
• Definition: A criminal gang incorporates any formal or casual progressing association, affiliation, or
gathering of at least three people, where at least one or more of their activities is the undertaking of
criminal offenses (Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998).

• These groups are associated with an identifiable name or distinguishing sign or image, and members
independently or collectively partake in or are actively a part of a criminal group activity (Prevention of
Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998)

• There are a number of various gangs within South Africa depending on the community in question

10
Street Gangs vs. Prison Gangs
• Street Gangs

The Cape Flats gangs: The Americans and the Hard Livings
• Smaller gangs in Cape Town: Young Dixie Boys, Clever Kids, Naughty Boys, the Junky Funky Kids,
Respectable Peacefuls, Wonder Kids, School Boys and Yuru Cats

In Johannesburg: the Fast Guns, Varrados, Terribles, Dogons and Sour Boys.

In Port Elizabeth: The Dustlifes and Upstand Doggs

• Smaller gangs in PE: Shottas, Paparazzis, Boomshakas, Untouchables, Fat Cats

• Prison gangs

The Numbers' gangs

• Big 5, RAF 3 & 4, 26's, 27's, and 28's

11
South African Gangs- Prison Gangs - Royal Air Force
• This gang is also known as “the RAF”
• Their declared goal is to escape the correctional centre because their official gang appurtenance, such
as their drug and weapon trade, are outside of the facility and must be protected (Nel, 2017:65).
• The two air force gangs have separate aims when attempting to escape.
• Air force 3 are considered as a ‘flight risk’ because they escape at the slightest opportunity that is made
available and they do not attempt to injure individuals in the process of escaping (Nel, 2017:65).
• Unlike Air force 3, Air force 4 prefer to injure any individual who deter them from escaping which is a
part of their strategy. An opportunity to escape would arise when they are being transported to and
from the official trial in court (Nel, 2017:65).
• The other numbers gangs commit offences within the centre to extend their incarceration period in
order to climb the hierarchal rankings.

12
South African Gangs: Big Five
• In a correctional context, the Big Five’s declared goal is to co-operate with the authorities, i.e. the
correctional officials.
• They are considered to be the eyes and ears and tend to associate themselves with other gangs’ actions
and issues in order to provide officials with information (Nel, 2017:65).
• The members have a sophisticated manner in which they communicate with the officials who reward
them with favours, such as access to illicit substances, food and cigarette privileges, if valid information
is provided.
• These gang members are often targeted as they share gang information with outsiders that other
Numbers gangs pride themselves in.
• They are comprised of gang members who have decided to leave other smaller gangs and often carry
some of the 26s, 27s and 28’s tattoos (Nel, 2017:65).

13
South African Gangs- 26s
• The 26s duty is to gather wealth for all the members through obtaining goods, illicit substances,
weapons and money through devious actions such as theft, smuggling and robbery (Nel, 2017:63).
• The 26s are also known as the cleaners within the prison, they do not participate in sodomy and any
inmate who has been raped cannot join the 26s (Nel, 2017:63-64).
• The 26s tattoos will predominately be found on the right-hand side of their body to depict that they do
not take part in sodomy or any practice with the same sex (Nel, 2017:12-16). Their tattoos consist of a
dollar sign ($), money or coins and the money is often pierced by a knife. Another common tattoo
would be an open book with the number 26 on it as well as a fist holding money and a sun rising, which
is often referred to ‘son op’ (Nel, 2017:12-16).
• The 26s and the 28s are not allowed to communicate directly with each other which creates a hostile
environment within overcrowded cells. A member can, at any stage, covert to a 27, if he wishes to
communicate with the 28's (Nel, 2017:63).

14
 South African Gangs- 27s
• The 27s are known as ‘career criminals’ who specialise in violence both inside and outside of
correctional facilities (Nel, 2017:65). The members are the most protective and secretive about their
structure, yet they are mostly likely to monitor and enforce the gang laws and the Numbers code (Nel,
2017:3).
• The 27s are known to be the mediators between the 26s and 28s as well as being the protectors of the
gang law while disciplining the wrong doings of the gang members through various forms of
punishment, such as assault and sodomy (Nel, 2017: 12-16).
• They enforce the laws for the 26s and 27s and in order to join the 27’s, an inmate needs to stab an
informer (Nel, 2017:88).
• There is a lack of research on the 27s as they are the most secretive numbers gang, thus their rankings
are unbeknown.
• The 27s have a tattoo displaying a rising son and crossed scimitars, indicating that a 27 member is
violent in nature or tattoos of weapons indicting they are somehow armed with a weapon of some sort
(Nel, 2017:12-16).

15
South African Gangs- 28s
• The 28s are known for being the fighters involved in blood and sodomy. As a gang ritual and initiation,
individuals who want to join the gang or who are already a member must use violence, such as
stabbing, to become a part of or to climb the ranks
• They are split into two groups:
• The Gold line (fighters or the bloodline)
• The Silver line (‘boy wives’ or in charge of light duties) (Nel, 2017:58).

The members have entered these positions by

stabbing a warder. The military wing consists of The 28s have one of the most notorious
Gold Line the judge, the general (who has the power to tattoos of a sun setting (Steinberg, 2004:12-
declare war), the colonel, and the lieutenant 16).
(Steinberg, 2004:12-16).

Silver Line The gang member will have a tattoo of Moliva Bay.

If he has entered through the gold line, the

member will have tattoos depicting blood or death,
some members might have both and this will
indicate that the member has moved through the
silver line to the gold line (Steinberg, 2004:12-16).
16
Transnational and international Groups
• Similar structure to the national groups, but on a cross-border and international level
• These groups operate crime across international borders, involving groups or markets of people to work
in more than one country to plan and execute illegal business ventures (Bezuidenhout, 2011:281).
• These illegal ventures are often fronted with a legit business trade
• Not only do the groups aim to obtain financial gain, but they aim to gain influence and power
(Bezuidenhout, 2011:281).
• These groups protect their activities through corruption, violence, international commerce, complex
communication mechanisms, and an organizational structure exploiting national boundaries.
• These groups are able to target victims and execute their schemes from anywhere in the world
(Bezuidenhout, 2011:281).
• Therefore, the extent of their presence within a particular area does not necessarily reflect the degree
of the threat they pose.

17
Transnational and international Groups

Nigerian
Crime
Syndicates

The
Chinese
Pakistani
Triad
Mafia

18
Nigerian Crime Syndicate

• A crime syndicate is a type of criminal formation with the following:

Capacity to
The power to
An Capacity for corrupt law
Division of infiltrate
organisational Rules History Reputation ruthless enforcement
labour legitimate
structure violence and political
business
systems

• Nigerian syndicates often work with corrupt officials and specialise in human and drug trafficking
(Adeyemi, 2016:1-2).
• The first Nigerian criminal group came to South Africa in the 1980’s.
• Initially, the groups were not very structured and members were found in various networks, depending
on which offences they were committing

19
Nigerian Crime Syndicate
• Nigerians have entered South Africa both legally and illegally, and distinct Nigerian communities have
been established in larger cities such as Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
• Nigerian criminal enterprises are the most significant group and operates in more than 80 countries of
the world, including South-Africa (Pancieri, 2018:1)
• Not all Nigerian immigrants are involved in crime, most do earn a honest wage and are here legally
• Hillbrow, an area in Johannesburg, is famously known as “Little Lagos”, which refers to the capital of
Nigeria (Bezuidenhout, 2011:280)
• These communities make it easier for the criminal to ”conceal/hide’ their illegal operations (Pancieri,
2018:1)
• The most common characteristic of the Nigerian syndicate operating in South Africa, is that none of the
members are allowed to consume drugs (Bezuidenhout, 2011:280)

20
The Pakistani Mafia

• There is a considerable lack of research on the activities of the Pakistani mafia (Bezuidenhout,
2011:281)
• It is believed that this group specialises in extortion, kidnapping businesses and businessmen for the
purpose of monetary gain and operating sweatshop factories (where workers under slave conditions
earn less than minimum wage)
• They are known for their intimidation tactics such as threatening violence, looting your property and
blackmailing their target (Bezuidenhout, 2011:281)
• These individuals often enter South Africa through Botswana and Mozambique, using illegal passports
that they either illegally make or obtain from a corrupt official (Shaikh & Burfat, 2015:4)
• The group is currently active in the eastern Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape
(Bezuidenhout, 2011:281)

21
The Pakistani Mafia
• Alongside the production of illegal passports, the Pakistani mafia have been caught producing the
following:
• Blank birth certificates
• Work permits
• Blank identity documents and passports
• Equipment for taking fingerprints and an official Home Affairs stamp

• In 2019, members from the Pakistani mafia in South Africa hijacked a businessman in Durban of both his
businesses (Shaikh & Burfat, 2015:4)
• Riaz Muhammad said he was forced to “donate” both of his cellular shops as two Pakistani mafia
members, who forced him to sign a ‘business transfer’ document which stated he was donating his
shops and profits
• Excessive force and intimidation tactics were utilised to get Mr. Muhammad to hand over his business
worth R2million

22
Chinese Triad
• One of the worlds oldest and most secretive criminal organisations (Bezuidenhout, 2011:281)
• The Chinese Triads main operations are based in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
• From 1990 onwards, their operations have expanded and now operate across international borders, into
South Africa.
• Johannesburg and Pretoria are regarded as the main areas of their operations, but they are also active
in harbour cities such as Port Elizabeth and Cape Town (Bezuidenhout, 2011:281)

• The Chinese Triad is actively involved in several types of organised crime such as:
• Abalone poaching and exporting
• Drug trafficking
• Human trafficking
• Extortion
• Money laundering
• Importing of counterfeit goods
23
Chinese Triad
• Triads develop highly ritualised initiation ceremonies that instil a strong sense of secrecy and loyalty
amongst other triad members (Gastrow, 2001:3)
• These details are only privy to triad members and have been passed down from previous generations
• There are two groups triad members are associated with:
• ‘Dai-los’ (big brothers)
• ‘Sai-los’ (little brothers)

• Sai-los often provides a sense of loyalty, support and money to the Dai-los.
• In exchange, the Dai-los provides protection and offers advice to the Sai-los (Gastrow, 2001:3)
• When it comes to the hierarchy within the triads, it tends to be strictly controlled from the top but triad
members often branch out into their own criminal enterprise

24
 Chinese Triad
• When it comes to the operations of the Hong Kong triad within South Africa, there are four groups:
• The Wo Shing Wo group
• The San Yee On group
• The 14K-Hau group
• The 14K-Ngai group
• These groups act individually from each other within South Africa (Gastrow, 2001:4)
• The Taiwan groups appear to be less structured, only consisting of three groups, each loosely knit with no
definite name (Gastrow, 2001:5)
• Each group has a specific focus area and task
• The first group (consisting of 10 members) concentrates on illegal poaching and exporting shark fins
• The second group (consists of 10-15 people) is involved in illegal gambling and prostitution as well as
exporting illegal firearms from South Africa to the East
• The third group (consist of a high number of members) concentrates mainly on the illegal abalone
substances
• Some triad members are immigrants from the East, but most members are born and raised in South Africa
and have followed an arduous route of building up a reputation and capital through illegal and legal
activities (Gastrow, 2001:7) 25
References
Adeyemi, B.A. (2016). Organised Crime And The Nigerian Criminal Enterprises: An Examination Of Adolfo Beria Di
Argentine's' Mafia Issues―Analyses And Proposals For Combatting The Mafia Of Today'.
Columb, S. (2018). Organ Trafficking: Transplant Tourism And Trafficking In Persons For The Removal Of Organs. The
Sage Handbook Of Human Trafficking And Modern Day Slavery,155.
Gastrow, P. (2001). Triad Societies And Chinese Organised Crime In South Africa. Chapter 3
Mccabe, K.A. & Manian, S. (2019) Conclusion: Anti-Trafficking Efforts. Sex Trafficking: A Global Perspective, 171(2), 1-
32.
Nel, S.L. (2017). A critical analysis of gangsterism in South African correctional centres: the case of Barberton
management area. (Published Doctoral dissertation).
Pharoah, R. (2016). Getting To Grips With Trafficking: Reflections On Human Trafficking Research In South Africa. Iss
Monograph, Johannesburg, Chapter 2-4, 3-37.

26
Thank You!
27