Concern about cross-border smuggling

KARAS Governor Dawid Boois has urged Namibian and South African police to co-operate more closely to fight cross-border crime.

Addressing a Regional Technical Committee meeting attended by Police officers from the Karas Region and their South African counterparts Boois urged them to focus on illegal cross-border trade. “We have such valuable resources such as Hoodia Gordonii, fauna and flora to be protected from illegal cross-border trade,” he said.The meeting was held at Luederitz on Thursday to review progress under the Regional Joint Technical Committee on Defence and Security.Nampol Deputy Commissioner Josephat Abel told The Namibian on Friday that co-operation between the police in South Africa and Karas had brought “significant successes” in the fight against crime.Abel single out protected species trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal border entries as the most common cross-border crimes.During the period under review, 50 South Africans were arrested in terms of the Immigration Control Act and for contravening the Road Transport Act.In addition, three Namibians were arrested on stock-theft charges while two people were arrested on charges of possession of dagga.During three joint operations carried out by Police, 147 diamonds valued at N$170 390 and close to a tonne of protected Hoodia plants valued at N$130 000 were confiscated.”We have such valuable resources such as Hoodia Gordonii, fauna and flora to be protected from illegal cross-border trade,” he said.The meeting was held at Luederitz on Thursday to review progress under the Regional Joint Technical Committee on Defence and Security.Nampol Deputy Commissioner Josephat Abel told The Namibian on Friday that co-operation between the police in South Africa and Karas had brought “significant successes” in the fight against crime.Abel single out protected species trafficking, drug trafficking and illegal border entries as the most common cross-border crimes.During the period under review, 50 South Africans were arrested in terms of the Immigration Control Act and for contravening the Road Transport Act.In addition, three Namibians were arrested on stock-theft charges while two people were arrested on charges of possession of dagga.During three joint operations carried out by Police, 147 diamonds valued at N$170 390 and close to a tonne of protected Hoodia plants valued at N$130 000 were confiscated.