Maria David
IN one of the biggest clampdowns on organised crime in the country, 14 people were arrested and seven cars confiscated in a sting operation in Omaheke where drugs worth almost N$12 million were seized.
This comes after a truck carrying cannabis, crack cocaine and Mandrax tablets from Botswana was on Saturday seized at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post in the Omaheke Region by Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) officials and Nampol.
More than 300 parcels of cannabis valued at N$10.7 million, crack cocaine worth N$39 000 and more than 10 000 Mandrax tablets valued at N$1.2 million were confiscated.
BUST: Drugs worth almost N$12 million were seized at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post. Photos: truckandfreight.co.za/Yusuf Abramjee/Twitter/ 
BUST: Drugs worth almost N$12 million were seized at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post. Photos: truckandfreight.co.za/Yusuf Abramjee/Twitter/ 
BUST: Drugs worth almost N$12 million were seized at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post. Photos: truckandfreight.co.za/Yusuf Abramjee/Twitter/ 
BUST: Drugs worth almost N$12 million were seized at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post. Photos: truckandfreight.co.za/Yusuf Abramjee/Twitter/
NamRA Chief of Strategic Communications and Support Engagement Steven Ndorokaze said the drug consignment was seized from a truck that entered Namibia from Botswana, following the non-intrusive inspection-scanning process and analysis by customs officials at the border.
“The image revealed that part of the load differed from what was declared in the documents,” he said.
A subsequent physical inspection uncovered 19 boxes that were not part of the declared consignment, containing prohibited drugs.
“Owing to the close cooperation between NamRA and the Namibia police, a sting operation was carried out and 14 suspected drug dealers were arrested. The seven vehicles used by the suspects to collect the illicit drug parcels were also seized during the operation,” he said.
In the past two weeks, NamRA also collected close to N$1 million in administrative penalties for undervalued and declared goods, coupled with incidents of false declaration.
Ndorokaze said an additional eight trucks with trailers valued at N$4.9 million have been detained subject to a further police investigation on suspicion of being smuggled into the country.
More than 8 000 pieces of various undeclared goods worth over N$351 000 have been seized, resulting in several enforcement operations targeting the illegal trade of pharmaceutical products, wines and spirits and unlicensed minerals.
Ndorokaze stated that NamRA remains determined to improve its role in facilitating legitimate trade, while at the same time enhancing the protection of society and the Namibian borders against the importation and exportation of illicit goods.
All traders should strictly comply with the customs law during the exportation and importation of goods, he said.
