South Africa will host ministers from five African countries in Pretoria on Thursday as regional governments seek to strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint law enforcement operations against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) will host the Ministerial Troika Meeting of the Trilateral Planning Cell (TPC), led by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, alongside Deputy Ministers of Police Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale.
The meeting comes amid a series of major drug seizures in South Africa, including a cocaine interception worth an estimated R167 million at OR Tambo International Airport in August and a methaqualone consignment valued at nearly R1 billion intercepted at the Beitbridge border post in May.
The gathering will bring together the ministers responsible for internal affairs and security from Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Angola, alongside South African officials.
Mozambique will be represented by Interior Minister Paulo Chachine, Tanzania by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Palamagamba John Kabudi, Uganda by Internal Affairs Minister Juma Witonzo Kisekka and Angola by Secretary of State for the Ministry of the Interior Arnaldo Manuel Carlos.
The TPC is a multilateral initiative established in Maputo, Mozambique, by ministers responsible for policing in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Its objective is to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs along the Southern Route through stronger regional cooperation, intelligence-sharing and coordinated law enforcement operations.
The meeting will be held under the theme, “Strengthening Transnational Coordination to Better Identify External Factors Contributing to Organised Crime in the Trilateral States”.
One of the key proposals expected to be discussed is the establishment of a Regional Joint Counter-Narcotics and Organised Crime Fusion Centre.
The proposed centre would strengthen the exchange of intelligence, improve coordination between law enforcement agencies and support joint responses to criminal networks operating across national borders.
The need for closer cooperation is underscored by recent drug trafficking cases involving international travel routes through South African airports and seaports.
In August, the South African Revenue Service intercepted more than 333kg of cocaine at OR Tambo International Airport on a flight arriving from São Paulo, Brazil. The consignment had an estimated street value of R167 million. Customs officials discovered cocaine in passenger luggage and referred the matter for further investigation.
In May, the Border Management Authority (BMA), working with the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies, intercepted a truck at the Beitbridge Port of Entry carrying approximately 713kg of methaqualone, commonly known as ABBA, a substance used in the manufacture of mandrax. The consignment was valued at nearly R1 billion and was described by the Department of Home Affairs as potentially one of the biggest breakthroughs against drug trafficking in South African history.
Drug mules have also continued to be arrested at OR Tambo International Airport.
In April, SAPS reported that more than 27 alleged traffickers had been arrested at the airport between 2025 and 2026. Among the cases was the arrest of a 26-year-old Brazilian national allegedly found with cocaine valued at R8.7 million. In a separate incident, a Dutch national was arrested with 60kg of khat while attempting to board a flight to London.
In March, five South African women were arrested at OR Tambo with drugs worth more than R5 million concealed on their bodies. Police said preliminary information indicated that they were travelling to China via Dubai.
Other cases have involved Nigerian and Brazilian nationals. In March 2025, police arrested a Nigerian national who had allegedly swallowed drug-filled packets after arriving from São Paulo. In a separate case, a Brazilian national was arrested after cocaine was found wrapped around his legs at OR Tambo.
These cases illustrate the international routes through which traffickers attempt to move illicit substances, although individual arrests do not establish the full structure or reach of the syndicates involved.
The ministerial meeting is expected to provide a platform for regional governments to strengthen cooperation against these networks and improve the coordination of investigations across borders.
The meeting will take place at the Maslow Hotel in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria East, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 11 am on Thursday, October 15.
