Minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Iipumbu says timber trade is not a regular trade, but a serious crime that needs to be dealt with.
Speaking during the launch of the Wood Identification and Screening Centre in Windhoek on Friday, Iipumbu said the practice undermines lawful commerce, weakens state authority and threatens biodiversity.
“That is why we, the government, must treat such threats with the seriousness it deserves. Our flora and fauna must be protected even if it means prosecuting offenders. Sometimes people look at timber and think it has lost value because it is dry. . . for us it’s resources,” she said.
She said the centre is significant in responding to crime in a more scientific and ‘prosecutable’ manner. This will enhance the work of the police and the ministry, while reinforcing the role of the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) in identifying suspicious consignments and investigating forest crimes.
Iipumbu said the centre ensures that all stakeholders are involved in combatting what is often seen as just a regular trading practice, helping to detect illegal poaching.
“This is an appropriate institution and a good home for a project of this nature. The use of scientific tools in criminal investigations is no longer optional. A modern law enforcement system must be intelligence-led and evidence based and, above all, technologically equipped,” she said.
She extended gratitude to the United States (US) for its financial support, including the donation, training and funding of the Direct Analysis in Real Time—Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer machine, the equipment that will be used to test and detect timber species to match their declared, legal or protected status.
Established in 2024 between the Namibian police, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namra and the US government, the forensic laboratory provides a major upgrade to Namibia’s enforcement capabilities.
It is funded by the US bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, with an investment of more than USD$2 million (N$33 million).
US ambassador to Namibia John Giordano says Namibia’s conservation and research space is a strategic asset, protecting tourism, investment and long-term growth.
He says supporting Namibia’s fight against timber trafficking is beneficial for the US as it makes the country safer.
“The US prioritises national interest, safety, security and prosperity and renewed its commitment to fighting criminal actors around the globe,” he says.
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