Niël Terblanché
In a series of intelligence-led operations, the Namibian Police and the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) intercepted two drug shipments in Windhoek and near the Ariamsvlei Border Post over the past three days.
According to a joint statement, NamPol and NamRA officials, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a truck driver from South Africa on Newcastle Street in the Northern Industrial Area of Windhoek on Tuesday.
A thorough search of the truck revealed 120.62 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at N$6 million.
The incident led to the arrest of three Zimbabwean nationals, ages 54, 45, and 34.
They are expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate Court shortly.
In another operation on Thursday at around 00h15, officials intercepted another truck driver on the road between the entry points of South Africa and Namibia near the Ariamsvlei Border Post.
A search of this truck uncovered 100.40 grammes of cannabis, valued at N$500 000.
The suspect, a 55-year-old South African national, was arrested.
He was set to appear in the Karasburg Magistrate Court on Thursday.
Both NamPol and NamRA reiterated their dedication to preventing the illegal importation and distribution of controlled substances.
“These operations stress the critical role that the two institutions play in protecting society from the detrimental effects of illicit drugs,” the statement read.
The two law enforcement agencies expressed their gratitude to the public for their cooperation and commended the dedicated officials for their swift and effective actions.
The institutions called on the public to remain vigilant and support their efforts by reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies and adhering to laws designed to maintain Namibian society’s well-being.
According to the statement, the successful operations are evidence of the effectiveness of intelligence-led initiatives and the crucial collaboration between NamPol and NamRA in combating drug trafficking.
The swift actions of these officials, led by information from members of the public, have prevented significant quantities of illegal drugs from reaching Namibian streets, thereby protecting the community from their harmful effects.
