Placido Hilukilwa
FUEL smuggling has become the most common cross border crime in the northern regions of Namibia.
The discovery Sunday of more than 650 litres of smuggled fuel in a house in the Ompumbu informal settlement of Oshakati was the latest addition to a long list of cross border crimes.
Two men, aged 23 and 38 respectively, were arrested on charges of contravening the Petroleum and Energy Products Act and related regulations, the Customs and Excise Act, and the Tobacco Act.
According to the police, the two suspects were arrested thanks to a tipoff by an anonymous informant.
Police officers were dispatched to the site and searched the house in the presence of the owner.
They found 26 containers of 25 litres each.
The fuel was allegedly smuggled from Angola into Namibia through ungazetted points.
They also found 76 empty fuel containers plus a few other smaller containers.
A body search of the two suspects led to the discovery of a cash amount of N$1 250 allegedly generated through the sale of Angolan fuel.
The police estimated the total value of the fuel at N$10 751.
Smuggled cigarettes and sachets of whiskey were also found at the same venue and impounded together with the money generated from the illegal sale.
One of the arrested suspects is the owner of the house in Ompumbu location, while the other is a 23-year-old friend from Ongenga in the Ohangwena Region.
Fuel smuggling has become endemic in the Ohangwena Region and has now spread to the neighbouring regions.
At places such as Oshikango smugglers operate openly, and only try to hide or run away when they spot a police patrol.
Privately they admit that their activities are detrimental to the economy of the country, but appear to value more their personal gain.
Angolan pump prices are lower compared to Namibia and the smugglers have a very large profit margin.
The two suspects were due to appear in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court.
