Rundu cop allegedly pocketed N$70 to smuggle drugs into holding cells

A Rundu police officer allegedly accepted a mere N$70 to smuggle cannabis and other prohibited items into police holding cells, the court heard Tuesday during a bail hearing of the two officers arrested last week on drug-related charges.

Sergeant Siyauya (first name not made public) of the Namibian Police's conduct and investigation directorate testified during the bail hearing of the two officers that one of the accused, Nguma Mbambo, who is stationed at the Rundu Police Station charge office, abused his position to facilitate the delivery of contraband to an inmate.

Siyauya told the court that Mbambo was found in possession of N$270 at the time of his arrest.

Of that amount, N$200 was allegedly intended for an inmate, while the remaining N$70 was his “personal cut” for smuggling the items into the holding cells.

The State is opposing bail.

Public prosecutor Variety Matamata argued that the offence amounted to a serious abuse of authority and a betrayal of public trust by an officer responsible for securing detainees.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Bernhard Tjatjara questioned Siyauya on the alleged value of the cannabis found in Mbambo’s possession, arguing that the street value of the drugs, together with the cash recovered, amounted to a minor case averaging about N$300.

However, Siyauya told the court that the value of the cannabis had not yet been formally determined and he was therefore unable to confirm its street value. He further testified that, although Mbambo was not considered a flight risk, his release on bail would not be in the interest of the public, adding that there was a likelihood he could reoffend if released.

Public tip-off

According to Siyauya, Mbambo was arrested following an intelligence-driven operation.

This after police received a tip-off from a reliable source that a member of the public intended to use a police officer to smuggle contraband into the holding cells. Intelligence units monitored communications and instituted a covert operation involving members of the conduct investigation and drug law enforcement units.

During the operation, the member of the public was identified and tailed from the Rundu Magistrate’s Court to Rundu State Hospital, where he allegedly handed over parcels of contraband items to Mbambo, who had come from Rundu Police Station while on duty to receive them. After receiving the parcels, Mbambo allegedly returned to the police station with the intention of smuggling the items into the holding cells.

He was intercepted at the charge office, where a body search was conducted.

The search allegedly yielded 11 bankies of cannabis, three mobile phones, five SIM cards, two packets of Yes cigarettes, a USB charger cable, an ATM card and the cash.

Siyauya further informed the court that Mbambo had previously been arrested in March last year for possession of cannabis valued at N$750 and is currently out on bail in that matter.

He also testified that an investigation into a stabbing incident at the Rundu Police Station cells last year, which left a police officer severely injured, revealed information suggesting that the police officer involved might have been linked to smuggling the weapon used in the attack.

Undercover ops yield results

In a related case uncovered through similar intelligence, police officer Anton Given Mulemwa, a court orderly stationed at Rundu Magistrate’s Court, was also arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis into court holding cells. Police reportedly recovered 19 bankies of cannabis and N$100 from him.

Both officers, represented by Bernhard Tjatjara of Bernhard Tjatjara & Co Inc Legal Practitioners, face charges of possession and dealing in cannabis, as well as contraventions of the Tobacco Products Control Act. The State is represented by Public Prosecutor Variety Matamata. The matter has been remanded to Monday, 16 February 2026, for a bail ruling.

The conduct of police officers has come into the spotlight lately, with many officers being implicated in various crimes such as drug possession, poaching and gender-based violence, among others.

This week, during a press briefing in Windhoek, Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo announced that five police officers, ranging from constables to sergeants, will be dismissed following serious misconduct, including incidents involving drugs and contraband in police custody.