Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Police (NamPol) has officially launched a Crime Intelligence Analytical Unit aimed at enhancing its capacity to combat transnational organised crime through data-driven policing strategies.
The new investigative unit was officially established at the headquarters of NamPol in Windhoek, and it will form part of the broader ENACT (Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organised Crime) project, supported by INTERPOL and the European Union.
The new unit in Namibia is the tenth to be launched under the initiative across Africa, joining countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Togo, Nigeria, and Uganda.
Major General Anne-Marie Nainda, deputy inspector general for administration of the Namibian Police and INTERPOL Executive Committee Delegate for Africa, described the new unit as a response to the changing face of crime and the evolving tactics of criminal networks.
“It is imperative that our strategies evolve to stay ahead of the current and emerging threats. The establishment of the Crime Intelligence Analytical Unit is a strategic response to this challenge and is aimed at enhancing our ability to analyse crime patterns, predict trends, and develop targeted interventions to prevent, reduce, detect, interrupt and solve crime,” she said.
The new unit will initially be staffed with six officers, selected from a cohort of 20 who underwent training in crime intelligence analysis earlier this year.
These officers are tasked with converting raw data into actionable intelligence, enabling the force to make better-informed decisions regarding crime prevention and investigations.
Nainda acknowledged the vital contribution of INTERPOL and ENACT in equipping Namibian officers with the necessary skills.
“Your expertise and devotion have equipped our officers with critical skills in data analysis, intelligence gathering, and crime trend forecasting. This collaboration is a powerful example of how partnerships can strengthen global security and promote safer communities,” she said.
Nainda urged the new unit to sustain its efforts through continuous training and active collaboration with international stakeholders.
“The unit will also aid in resource allocation and deployment of officers, which are informed by crime trends in specific areas. We must ensure that this unit becomes a model of efficiency, accuracy, and reliability,” she said.
The EU’s Chargé d’Affaires to Namibia, Ian Dupont, who also spoke at the inauguration, warned that transnational organised crime poses a serious threat to governance, peace, and development.
“Organised crime knows no borders. It fuels conflict and corruption, infiltrating businesses and politics, and diverts resources away from development, job creation, and public services,” he said.
Dupont stressed the importance of projects like ENACT, noting that Namibia’s inclusion in the initiative places it among regional leaders taking proactive steps to address the cross-border nature of modern criminal activity.
“The Namibian analytical unit that we are inaugurating today is at the forefront of the fight against transnational organised crime,” he said.
Dupont added that the establishment of the new unit will give rise to a more sophisticated and coordinated approach to policing.
“It reflects Namibia’s commitment to global law enforcement standards and its willingness to invest in modern tools and strategies to make communities safer,” he said.
