EDITORIAL: N$26.8m drug busts not enough to stem Namibia’s growing crisis

Namibia’s fight against drugs has recorded a visible win, with the Namibia Revenue Agency confiscating narcotics valued at N$26.8 million in the 2025/26 financial year. That is no small feat. It reflects stronger border controls and enforcement capacity. Yet seizures tell only part of the story. It is entirely plausible that as much – if not more – slipped through undetected, feeding a growing underground market. Warnings by top cop Joseph Shikongo should not be ignored. He has repeatedly pointed to unemployment as a key driver, with many young people drawn into drug abuse or trafficking out of desperation. That reality shifts this from a policing issue to a broader socio-economic crisis. Communities often know who the dealers are. Silence, whether driven by fear or indifference, allows the trade to thrive. Action must be shared. Families must engage with children early and consistently. Schools must strengthen life-skills education and drug awareness. Communities and traditional leaders must report and isolate criminal activity. Police must build trust and protect informants. Lawmakers must tighten penalties while expanding rehabilitation and youth employment programmes. Coordinated action can shrink the market and reclaim vulnerable communities.