Police seized illegal drugs worth more than 106 million Namibian dollars during a two-year operation across the country. Inspector General Joseph Shikongo announced the results on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Officers arrested 3,264 suspects during the same period from January 2023 through December 2024. Foreign nationals from 13 different countries made up 204 of those detained. The nationwide crackdown targeted various illegal substances throughout Namibia.
Cannabis represented the largest portion of confiscated materials at 8.4 million kilograms valued at 84.5 million dollars. Authorities also recovered cocaine, mandrax, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methcathinone and LSD from dealers. Mandrax seizures jumped dramatically from 11,228 tablets during 2023 to nearly 60,000 tablets last year. Police confiscated drugs worth 6.3 million dollars during March and April alone this year. Officers made 363 additional arrests during those two months.
Drug traffickers deliberately recruit young people as both customers and delivery workers according to Shikongo. Many youth become trapped after entering the drug trade and struggle to break free from addiction cycles. Law enforcement agencies cannot solve the drug crisis through arrests alone. Communities must focus on prevention programs, education efforts, rehabilitation services and empowerment initiatives. Police collaborate with government ministries, schools and religious organizations to spread awareness and build community strength against drug abuse.
Cannabis represented the largest portion of confiscated materials at 8.4 million kilograms valued at 84.5 million dollars. Authorities also recovered cocaine, mandrax, crack cocaine, ecstasy, methcathinone and LSD from dealers. Mandrax seizures jumped dramatically from 11,228 tablets during 2023 to nearly 60,000 tablets last year. Police confiscated drugs worth 6.3 million dollars during March and April alone this year. Officers made 363 additional arrests during those two months.
Drug traffickers deliberately recruit young people as both customers and delivery workers according to Shikongo. Many youth become trapped after entering the drug trade and struggle to break free from addiction cycles. Law enforcement agencies cannot solve the drug crisis through arrests alone. Communities must focus on prevention programs, education efforts, rehabilitation services and empowerment initiatives. Police collaborate with government ministries, schools and religious organizations to spread awareness and build community strength against drug abuse.
