Upmarket Constantia not immune as alleged Interpol drug trafficker case raises crime concerns

Following reports of an alleged Interpol-wanted drug trafficker operating as a personal trainer out of a gym in Constantia, concerns have been raised about the neighbourhood’s attraction to dangerous criminals.

Author and journalist Caryn Dolley, who initially broke the story of Bulgarian national Stan Stamenov, highlighted the surprising ways in which organised crime infiltrates seemingly ordinary aspects of life.

RELATED: Drug trafficker wanted by Interpol allegedly found working as personal trainer in Constantia

She pointed out that Cape Town’s leafy suburbs, such as Constantia, are not immune to organised crime.

“There are perceptions applied to organised crime. In Cape Town in particular, we assume that the so-called Cape Flats are epicentres of the province, but that is gang violence. But we are not considering what else is happening, and that will take us to the more upmarket suburbs where there is more money.”

Dolley’s research looks at the globalisation of economies, which has led to an increase in transnational organised crime, with individuals from other countries operating in South Africa.

She said there is a thin line between the illegal and legitimate economies in Cape Town, where gangsterism and money laundering are prevalent.

“Increasingly, we are seeing that global trafficking routes are running through the country. Just because we are seeing it more, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been there before.

“Organised crime by nature is transnational, which means that there have to be links between this country and other countries; there are criminals from other countries operating with local criminals,” she said.

To listen to Dolley in conversation with CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: