Rehoboth a crime, drug hotspot
Drug trafficking in the spotlight
In their quest to address the possession, use of and dealing in drugs, NamPol held a crime prevention operation in Rehoboth along with a community outreach programme over the weekend, where various speakers including rehabilitated drug users spoke.The aim is to educate and to deter as well as to protect lives from the use of illicit substances, not just in Rehoboth but countrywide, the police said.
Speaking at the outreach, Regional Commander of Hardap Commissioner Sydney Philander, said that Rehoboth has been infiltrated by heinous deeds and has become a crime hotspot.
“According to the region’s crime statistics for 2021-2022, the crime rate stood at 46%. Alcohol and drug abuses were identified as the major contributing factors to crimes such as common assault, assault with the intent to cause grievously bodily harm and rape. Moreover, other serious crimes such as housebreaking with the intent to steal, theft and robberies are also serious concerns in Rehoboth. Therefore, it has been proven that addicted persons commit these types of crimes to acquire the financial gain to sustain their daily needs.”
He added that drug dealers in Rehoboth have advanced in their criminal activities by recruiting unemployed youth, school learners, and even elderly women as runners/peddlers to make drugs more accessible to streets and schools.
“They have gone to the extent of recruiting police officers to act as their agents, to tip them off when operations are planned. It is also known to us that some police officers are abusing drugs and indebted themselves to dealers, which is the reason why they are being used by the dealers,” he said.
Philander said that since last year, 101 drug-related cases were registered in the region, of which 138 suspects were arrested and charged. The total value of drugs confiscated in the region was N$742 780.
“Some of the perpetrators who were previously arrested are back in society because they paid an admission of guilt as first offenders for lesser quantities of drugs. However, the quantities mentioned, are much less than what is available in the market. Therefore, more has to be done to make a bigger impact against the illegal distribution of drugs in the region.
Spec ops
At the event, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said that the special operations team from both the Hardap and Khomas drug law enforcement divisions have been doing surveillance in Rehoboth since mid-June.
“Since then, successful operations involved the arrest of a teacher found in possession of over 2 000 mandrax tablets. Our special operations officers also managed to search 20 drug-suspected houses in different areas here in Rehoboth and three men were arrested.”
She said that although they did not confiscate illicit substances from the random searches, they witnessed that amongst those houses that were searched, suspects were seen rushing to flush drugs down toilets.
“Rehoboth is amongst the towns regarded as a drug hot spot in Namibia. Why do we allow this? Is it because there is a gap between the police and the community? If that is the case, we have to close that gap!
“Sadly, as communities, we forget that those that use drugs – we call them addicts, crackheads, druggies and junkies because they are not accepted in our society and they are a bad influence – are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and perhaps fathers and mothers. They need our assistance. Disappointingly, we embrace and support those who sell drugs, while they secure a future for their children, but we forget that they destroy the lives of others including our children. We know them, yet we protect them! This battle is complex, so we need to work better together to provide more support, especially to people battling addictions. We need to continue to disrupt every point of the supply chain. And that’s where we need your help and support.”
Country-wide
Speaking at the same event, NamPol’s Deputy Inspector-General Major General Joseph Shikongo, said that statistics indicate that between 2019 and 2022, 525 suspects were arrested in connection with drug-related crimes, of which 393 are male, 79 are females and 53 are male juveniles.
He said the drugs involved in these cases are valued at almost N$12 million.
“Drug trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon, it is not limited to a particular area, region or country and it affects us all and must be fought at all costs. Crime hurts our day-to-day activities and the economy at large. It will be appreciated if the youth of Namibia can take a step to join hands with NamPol in the fight against crime.”
He added that society is experiencing a heightened intensity in the commission of violent and brutal crimes, with victims often being subjected to rape and murder. “Therefore, this initiative could not have come at a better time. NamPol is employing all resources at its disposal in investigations aimed at solving current cases against humanity, but primarily finding lasting preventive strategies to avert the recurrence of similar cases in the future to ensure that Namibia can become a safe country for its inhabitants, investors and tourists.”
He added that crime prevention is the responsibility of all able-bodied persons in the country. “We are all, therefore, expected to render our helping hands. As you may know, the police do not have enough resources to fight crime. [Yet] I can assure you that once members of the public, particularly the youth, join hands with the police, we will succeed in the fight against crime.”