In this Business Talk with Michael Avery interview, Waal de Waal and Jarred West discuss how organized economic crime has expanded beyond counterfeit goods and smuggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Waal is the Chief Operating Officer at Bidvest Protection, and he has been with the company for nearly 25 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the knowledge and insight he has acquired doing his job, de Waal has also become a well-known commentator on South Africa\u2019s biggest security issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has provided high-profile commentary on platforms like Carte Blanche about a variety of illicit crime, including illegal infrastructure and fuel-related crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West is a Partner at Spoor and Fisher and has over a decade of experience in the anti-counterfeiting sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He specialises in marketplace enforcement and has presented several seminars on brand protection and anti-counterfeiting, including to officials of the Department of Customs and Excise and members of the South African Police Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this Business Talk interview, de Waal and West discuss the networks that exist behind the dissemination of counterfeit products, illicit fuel, money laundering, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West explains why counterfeit products like pharmaceuticals, vehicle parts, and electronics present serious risks to ordinary South Africans \u2013 many of whom do not know they are buying fake products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two experts also explain how the criminal syndicates behind these illicit markets diversify, and de Waal expands upon how illegal fuel networks can be tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both experts discuss how weaknesses in law enforcement, intelligent gathering, border control, and prosecution result in fragmented responses that allow criminal syndicates to keep adapting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They conclude the discussion by revealing what it will take for South Africa to fight against illicit trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watch the full interview with de Waal and West below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n