SOUTH AFRICA: $16MILLION JOHANNESBURG AIRPORT HEIST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001313 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES FOR PBALL AMEMBASSY DAKAR FOR FAA/EJONES AMEMBASSY ROME FOR TSA/JHALINSKI DHS PLEASE PASS TO TSA DEPT PLEASE PASS TO FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ASEC ECON SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: $16MILLION JOHANNESBURG AIRPORT HEIST REF: 04 PRETORIA 764 (U) Sensitive but Unclassified; Protect accordingly. Not for internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Fifteen armed men stole an estimated R100 million ($16 million) in foreign currency, mostly U.S. dollars, from a South African Airways passenger plane at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) on March 25. No shots were fired. The heist, which police suspect was an inside job, follows similar thefts at the airport of gold, platinum, diamonds, and cash during the past four years. Police arrested five suspects - two foreign nationals and three senior airport managers. In the wake of the most recent heist, Transport Minister Radebe defended the safety of South African airports and promised another review of security measures. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On March 25 at 10 a.m., two men armed with AK-47s overwhelmed and disarmed guards unloading an estimated R100 million ($16 million) in foreign currency, including $11.5 million, from a South African Airways jet that had just arrived from London. Meanwhile, other members of the gang held up guards at airport gates. No shots were fired and the men got away. Reuben Pillay, Assistant Manager of Aviation Security for ACSA (Airports Company South Africa),later told Econoff that the thieves waited until passengers had deplaned before commencing their attack. National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said that the police suspected an inside job. Pillay told Econoff that the gang somehow managed to obtain official airport security badges that allowed them access to restricted areas. ¶3. (SBU) Within a few hours of the robbery, police arrested two foreign nationals at the Beitbridge border post with Zimbabwe. Police recovered $200,000 in cash, weapons, and ammunition. Three days after the heist, police arrested three senior ACSA managers: Duty Managers Nazir Ismail and Rookaya Ibrahim, and Bird and Wildlife Officer Seqan Soobramoney. Naidoo said the suspects face possible charges of armed robbery and charges related to contravening the Aviation Act. ACSA suspended the three arrested managers who allegedly had access to restricted zones at the airport. ¶4. (SBU) Following a similar heist of gold, diamonds, and platinum from a KLM aircraft in September 2004, Minister of Transport Jeffrey Radebe announced a R100 million plan to upgrade security at airports nationwide. Part of the security upgrade involved the installation of closed circuit surveillance cameras. When Econoff toured JIA in December 2005, ACSA had installed the cameras but had not yet hired the staff to monitor them. The upgrade included creating an executive security position at South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),but that position remains vacant. High staff turnover plagues the CAA which has been without a CEO for three years. Mr. Zakes Myeza, formerly Executive Director at the Johannesburg Development Agency, will fill that position in April. Radebe's spokesperson, Collen Msibi, announced that Radebe had appointed an interagency committee to assess the airport's security situation. In the wake of the most recent heist, Radebe defended the safety of property and customers at ACSA run airports. On March 31, ACSA spokesperson Solomon Makgale announced that ACSA has decided not to renew the contracts for two firms responsible for security at the airport and has appointed two others in their place. Makagle said the nonrenewal of the contracts was coincidental and not linked to the recent robbery. ¶5. (SBU) Paul O'Sullivan, ACSA's former head of airport security, shares the contention by police that the heist was an inside job. O'Sullivan claims that while he was head of security he uncovered a criminal syndicate at the airport which included police, customs, immigration and security officials, as well as cleaning staff, baggage handlers, and airline staff. He says that he was close to unraveling the syndicate when he was dismissed by ACSA in 2003 for "irreconcilable differences." O'Sullivan is suing ACSA for $20 million for defamation of character. ¶6. (SBU) Airline executives from Delta and South African Airways as well as the CEO of the South African Board of Airline Representatives have complained to Econoff about PRETORIA 00001313 002 OF 002 problems with airport security, particularly luggage pilferage which is becoming widespread. The Embassy has also become increasingly aware of this problem. In March 2006, for example, the Embassy received a report that every bag belonging to a group of seven conferees flying out of JIA to attend an AID-sponsored event was pilfered. South African Airlines reported that in 2005 it received between 30 and 50 reports of luggage pilferage each day, costing the airline R40 million ($6.4 million) per year. Airline executives told Econoff that in their opinion airport officials have quickly tightened security in advance of Federal Aviation Administration or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) visits and then relaxed it after the inspectors leave. JIA security fared well in a February 2005 TSA visit. TEITELBAUM