Staff Reporter
THE rampant illegal importation of fuel through the northern Namibia-Angola border is expected to increase significantly as a result of the current crisis in the Middle East, whose effects are already being felt by oil-importing countries worldwide.
However, law enforcement officers say they are already winning the war against the cross-border crime, and any new smuggling trends will be dealt with accordingly.
Oshana Regional police commander Lungameni Sakaria said smugglers now realise how costly their illegal activities are. When caught, a smuggler loses the illicit fuel, faces criminal charges which may culminate in conviction and a prison term, and risks having their vehicle impounded.
Sakaria said cases of fuel smuggling have decreased in the Oshana Region thanks to the police’s determination to root out all kinds of illegalities.
Fuel smuggling has a negative effect on the local energy sector, with several filling stations having closed down in recent years due to a lack of customers, as vehicle owners fill up their tanks on the black market.
Smugglers buy Angolan fuel at approximately 300 Kwanza (N$5) per litre and resell it at about N$16 per litre, making a staggering profit, though still below the pump price.
Current fuel prices in Namibia are:
– ULP95 petrol: N$19.58 per litre
– Diesel 50ppm: N$19.63 per litre
– Diesel 10ppm: N$19.73 per litre
Photos: MICT Oshana Regional Office/Contributed
