High-value goods have always required extra security, but recently several factors are heightening the risk.According to Andre Duvenhage, managing director of Secure Logistics, the increased demand for luxury and electronic goods, as well as longer supply chains, are two reasons for the increased vulnerability. At the same time, he says, criminal organisations are increasingly focused on goods in transit and are well-organised and very capable of executing planned and thorough attacks.“High-value cargo volumes are increasing as more people are buying, thanks to improved marketing. Electronics, in particular, are also becoming more affordable. Nowadays everyone has a mobile phone – even schoolchildren. E-commerce is growing as well, and ultimately there is more cargo on the road, meaning there is more risk,” he said.Speaking to Freight News, Duvenhage said while every market had its risks and cargo theft was prevalent all over the world, South Africa remained a concern as it often experienced very violent crime.His comments are backed up by the 2022 Supply Chain Intelligence Center (SCIC) Global Cargo Theft Risk Assessment, which considers South Africa among the worst regions in the world. Brazil and Mexico top the list of unsafe areas and are considered to have a severe risk of cargo theft. South Africa is also considered a high to severe risk.The SCIC found that unprecedented global supply chain challenges in 2021 had contributed to an increased risk of cargo theft. Issues such as the ongoing global pandemic, shortage of supplies, restricted movement of goods across borders, as well as limitations in working hours and spaces are also still inf luencing the risk to cargo security in various degrees and forms.According to the report, 40% of theft incidents in 2021 occurred in Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria. Other cargo theft hot spots were in KwaZulu-Natal with 32% of the incidents.Duvenhage said in South Africa criminals were typically heavily armed and used violence to threaten the driver. “The level of violence experienced in South Africa remains a cause for concern. High-value cargo is targeted in most countries, but it is seldom accompanied by the violence we see here.”SCIC reports that the impersonation of police officers to stop cargo units is another major concern in South Africa. “The interception occurs when cargo is in transit, using multiple vehicles, and firearms, to force drivers to stop. Shootouts can also occur,” reads the report.“Cargo thieves typically act in large gangs with little hesitation to use violence against drivers and security guards, which can include the use of firearms as well as explosives. When coupled with the excessive levels of violence used to carry out primarily full truckload hijackings, the risk level in South Africa is severe.”There has been a dramatic increase in auto and parts cargo thefts in South Africa in the past year, according to the SCIC report.Duvenhage said despite the severity of the situation in South Africa, many high-value goods importers were still not securing their cargo enough, which continued to make the industry targets for syndicates.
