A drug bust at a farm located between the Osire refugee settlement and Hochfeld in the Otjozondjupa region, which led to the arrest of Armand Schultz and South African national David van der Linden on Wednesday, has starved some suppliers in Windhoek and Okahandja of dagga.
The Namibian Police have confirmed that Schultz and Van der Linden are allegedly the main suppliers of dagga in Windhoek and Okahandja.
An investigation by police sources revealed that most of the places suspected to be frequented by drug dealers have suddenly run out of stock.
This follows the police seizure of dagga worth a total of N$52 million, after discovering 52 large sachets in a vehicle, which led them to a nearby farm.
There, officers uncovered an illegal 1.55-hectare (about the size of one and a half football fields) dagga plantation and a small factory used to harvest, weigh and package the drugs.
The Namibian visited four known selling points in Windhoek, where some vendors confirmed they had run out of stock following the arrest.
Some police sources also corroborated The Namibian’s investigation.
“We have realised that, following the arrest at the farm, the areas where drug dealers usually operate are now out of dagga. We suspect that the people from the farm were supplying Okahandja, as well as Windhoek, but we are not sure about other parts of the country,” a police source says.
‘GOOD WORK’
National Police spokesperson Deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi yesterday confirmed that the consignment was destined for Windhoek and Okahandja.
“However, we cannot rule out the possibility that buyers in these towns extended deliveries to other corners of the country. These are concealed crimes, hence we may not know 100%, but we remain vigilant and will not relent in bringing the traders and users to book,” she said.
Shikwambi commended the police for their efforts.
“Indeed, it is good work from the police, and we also applaud those who are law-abiding and ready to report such incidents,” she said.
She clarified that no reward would be given to the informant and encouraged the public to report drug-related crimes.
“There is no offer of any reward whatsoever in this case. Our investigation continues. The public is urged to continue reporting: if you see something, say something. Let’s clean Namibia of these illegal substances.
“Those involved in the same crime, it’s only a matter of time before we get them, if they don’t desist,” she said.
The two suspects face two charges each – dealing in cannabis and possession of cannabis – and have been denied bail in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court.
Otjozondjupa regional police commander commissioner Philip Hidengwa last week confirmed the discovery. The case has been postponed to 23 June for a formal bail application.
“The suspect, aged 43, now joins two other accomplices: a 27-year-old farm manager and a driver who was transporting the drugs. They have been charged with dealing in cannabis and possession of cannabis,” he said.
“The illegal plantation and factory were uncovered after a car was stopped and searched at the Okahandja-Hochfeld roadblock, where 52 large sachets were found.”
Hidengwa said deliberations are underway on whether to destroy the plantation using chemicals or a grader.
LEGAL CHALLENGE
The Namibian reported earlier this year that three Windhoek High Court judges will hear arguments on 2 July to decide whether a legal challenge against Namibia’s cannabis laws is ready for trial. Ganja Users of Namibia leaders Brian Jaftha and Borro Ndungula want the outlawing of adult cannabis use declared unconstitutional, citing religious and cultural rights.
They argue the ban is outdated, harmful and rooted in discrimination.
The government says the case is premature, as the Law Reform and Development Commission is reviewing cannabis laws. The state maintains that legal changes should come from lawmakers, not the courts.
Meanwhile, Namibia has witnessed a significant surge in drug-related offenses in 2024 and 2025, with the police expressing concern over the increasing prevalence of cannabis cultivation, trafficking and use across the country.
In December 2024 alone, the police arrested 126 individuals, including Namibians and foreign nationals, for possession of illegal drugs. The confiscated substances included 308kg of cannabis, 10 031 mandrax tablets, 307 units of crack cocaine and 8.8kg of powder cocaine.
In August 2024, three individuals were arrested at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post in the Omaheke region for attempting to smuggle cannabis worth N$5.8 million into the country. Similarly, a raid in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial area led to the seizure of 120.6kg of cannabis valued at N$6 million.
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