Cape Town, South Africa, 15 March 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under its Global Programme against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, and the Financing of Terrorism (GPML), organized a workshop to build the capacity of South African law enforcement officers to respond to the pressing threat of mineral-related crimes in the country.
The workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from the 12th to the 15th of March 2024, and brought together 20 investigators, prosecutors, and defence force officials from various South African institutions, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), and the South African Revenue Authority (SARS).
The workshop formed part of the greater GPML Financial Disruption Course and was a continuation of the Financial Disruption workshop on mineral-related crimes that took place in January 2024 in Cape Town during the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Week.
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UNODC GPML’s financial disruption course provides a practical, risk-based framework to improve the effectiveness of AML/CFT policy and to disrupt criminal and terrorist financing networks. Bringing together good practices from Member States, the private sector, and academia, the course focusses on understanding the “business model” of criminal enterprises and identifying disruption measures which can achieve measurable effects on criminal networks while safeguarding human rights and economic development.
The workshop therefore served as a pivotal follow-up, taking participants beyond theory, as participants applied the Financial Disruption methodology to real, albeit sanitized, South African cases. These cases were brought by the participants themselves, adding a layer of practical relevance and immediacy to the exercises. The workshop also covered several critical areas, including trade-based money laundering and its connection to mineral-related crimes in South Africa, as well as the human rights implications of financial disruption strategies and law enforcement actions.
The outcomes of this intensive four-day training were multifaceted. Participants deepened their understanding of the financial disruption cycle, gaining insights into its application in real-world scenarios. Further, the introduction to trade-based money laundering expanded participant’s knowledge of the financial tactics employed by criminal organizations, particularly in the mineral sector, highlighting the international dimensions of these crimes. Moreover, discussions on human rights implications emphasized the need to consider the broader impacts of law enforcement actions, ensuring that efforts to combat crime do not inadvertently harm innocent individuals or communities. The workshop also strengthened and emphasized inter-agency collaboration and the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants.
In this way, the workshop constitutes a notable advancement in the ongoing efforts to address mineral-related crimes in South Africa and internationally. By emphasizing the importance of financial disruption strategies, fostering inter-agency cooperation, and highlighting the need to consider the extensive human rights impact of law enforcement initiatives, participants are now better prepared to confront the multifaceted challenges associated with these crimes at national, regional, and international levels.
When asked how they would use this training in their daily work, one participant stated “I will apply what was gained here before I make an arrest. I will broaden the investigation, as previously I was limiting myself to the crime at hand and not following the money”. Another participant also underscored “My focus going forward will not only be on taking on prosecutable cases, I will also keep an eye on the disruption side”.
Overall, the outcomes of the workshop are expected to significantly enhance the formulation and implementation of future strategies and actions. This progression will facilitate the strengthening of institutional capabilities and contribute to the maintenance of peace, security, and stability, aligning with broader global
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