Placido Hilukilwa
FAILURE to declare a consignment of weapons to the Angolan customs officials at Xangongo landed a Namibian driver, Daniel Thomas, in serious trouble last week.
He was accused of smuggling dangerous firearms and their respective ammunition.
The 35-year-old resident of the Etaneno village in northern Namibia was travelling from the Oshikango border post to the Angolan capital, Luanda, when customs officials checked his Volvo truck and “discovered” five rifles and eight pistols.
The consignment also included 18 magazines for the rifles and four for the pistols as well as 51 packets of ammunition of 50 cartridges each.
LEGAL: These guns and ammunition landed Daniel Thomas in trouble in Angola, but as things turned out, they were imported legally. Photos: Angolan police 
LEGAL: These guns and ammunition landed Daniel Thomas in trouble in Angola, but as things turned out, they were imported legally. Photos: Angolan police 
LEGAL: These guns and ammunition landed Daniel Thomas in trouble in Angola, but as things turned out, they were imported legally. Photos: Angolan police 
LEGAL: These guns and ammunition landed Daniel Thomas in trouble in Angola, but as things turned out, they were imported legally. Photos: Angolan police
The police also found 15 sabre knives.
His purported Angolan collaborator, identified only as Tony Brigadeiro, was also arrested the same day.
However, it was later discovered that the weapons were actually imported legally.
Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi of the Namibian police said upon inquiry that the issue was resolved and the Namibian driver was allowed to proceed to Luanda to deliver the cargo to the importer.
She said that the driver’s fault was merely a failure to promptly declare the armaments to the officials at Xangongo.
“He is free and is back — or will be back — in Namibia soon,” she said.
