Botswana: The Director of Forensic Science Services, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Hellen Baboloki Tumediso, said women play a substantial role in Transnational Organized Crimes (TOC).
Officiating at a three-day training workshop on the Role of Women in Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) in Gaborone today (10/07/2023), Dr Tumediso said the involvement of women in these criminal activities represents a complex and multifaceted challenge that demands a comprehensive understanding.
She said women actively participate as partners in human trafficking syndicates and contribute to the recruitment and transfers of victims.
She further said some women get involved as drug mules, while others assume leadership roles as queen pins, and others act as overseers of operational and financial management within the transnational organized crime networks.
Dr Tumediso said TOC in the region greatly threatens peace and security and negatively impacts regional integration and development efforts.
She said the workshop comes at a time when INTERPOL, as part of its centennial celebrations of 100 years, focuses on policing with a gender perspective. She also said organizations in the SADC region, through SARPCCO structures, continue to nurture a culture and commitment to working towards delivering gender-sensitive policing services, evident in its strategic and operational efforts.
Dr Tumediso called on women to enhance their efforts in combating transnational organized crimes and disrupt emerging threats by intensifying information sharing on associated trends and risks.
She said the fight against organized crime requires well-equipped and skilled professionals who can effectively dismantle criminal networks, disrupt their operations, and bring the perpetrators to justice. This includes the provision of necessary resources, tools, and training to combat emerging threats, such as cybercrime and money laundering.
For his part, the Regional Specialised Officer; of INTERPOL Regional Bureau -Harare, Pieer Du Toit, said financial crimes remain one of the most prevalent crime forms reported by member states with the increased use of technology and the rapid expansion of internet access, it is anticipated that financial crimes will continue to constitute the foremost portion of regional crimes.
He said another concern was the increasing number of theft cases and vandalism of regional infrastructure. He noted that infrastructure theft and destruction has far widened, resulting in states suffering financial losses.
He, therefore, called for regional cooperation that is continually expanded and enhanced through a number of collaborative efforts and initiatives.
The three-day training workshop is designed to provide capacity building for women in transnational organized crimes and mentorship in the balance of their professional and social lives.
The Conference runs under the theme: “The Role of Women in Transnational Organised Crime” and is attended by police officers from Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania. The Role of Women in Transnational Organised Crime.”