NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-29Police nab 110 illegal immigrants
THE Namibian Police arrested 110 illegal immigrants during a nationwide operation which targeted stolen vehicles, human trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal immigrants while two Namibians were found with an elephant task.
The objective of the operation was to flush out individuals or syndicates involved in organised crime and to enhance the co-operation between members of the public and the police in the fight against crime.
The spokesperson of the police, Edwin Kanguatjivi, said the operation was conducted in all 13 regions.
“The police were able to randomly stop and inspect 7 230 vehicles in all regions at permanent and temporary roadblocks against the Interpol database of stolen motor vehicles and no positive results were found,” Kanguatjivi said. He said the Interpol database to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration contributed significantly to the detection of individuals entering or leaving Namibia using stolen or lost travel or identification documents.
“A large number of the detained illegal immigrants were found travelling in public transport without relevant documents. A total of 110 illegal immigrants were detained during the operations. They were 96 Angolans, seven Zimbabweans, three Tanzanians, two Zambians, one Congolese and one Pakistani,” he said.
Kanguatjivi said two Namibians were also found with an elephant tusk at the roadblock of Linyanti turn-off, south of Katima Mulilo. This tusk could have been destined for sale on the black market and would probably be smuggled out of the country.
“An AK 47 with 37 rounds and a shotgun were confiscated. A Zambian national who was with them escaped and is still at large,” he said.
Nine people were also arrested for illicit drugs with the street value of N$83 503 in Khomas, Kavango, Caprivi and Otjozondjupa regions.
The objective of the operation was to flush out individuals or syndicates involved in organised crime and to enhance the co-operation between members of the public and the police in the fight against crime.
The spokesperson of the police, Edwin Kanguatjivi, said the operation was conducted in all 13 regions.
“The police were able to randomly stop and inspect 7 230 vehicles in all regions at permanent and temporary roadblocks against the Interpol database of stolen motor vehicles and no positive results were found,” Kanguatjivi said. He said the Interpol database to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration contributed significantly to the detection of individuals entering or leaving Namibia using stolen or lost travel or identification documents.
“A large number of the detained illegal immigrants were found travelling in public transport without relevant documents. A total of 110 illegal immigrants were detained during the operations. They were 96 Angolans, seven Zimbabweans, three Tanzanians, two Zambians, one Congolese and one Pakistani,” he said.
Kanguatjivi said two Namibians were also found with an elephant tusk at the roadblock of Linyanti turn-off, south of Katima Mulilo. This tusk could have been destined for sale on the black market and would probably be smuggled out of the country.
“An AK 47 with 37 rounds and a shotgun were confiscated. A Zambian national who was with them escaped and is still at large,” he said.
Nine people were also arrested for illicit drugs with the street value of N$83 503 in Khomas, Kavango, Caprivi and Otjozondjupa regions.
