One year on, only 12% of stolen Namdia diamonds recovered

This Sunday marks one year since one of Namibia’s most dramatic economic crimes: the armed robbery at Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) headquarters on 18 January 2025, during which diamonds worth N$315 million were stolen.What began as a daring heist of state-owned diamonds has since evolved into a complex saga of death, arrests, corporate upheaval, legal battles, and questions about institutional accountability — particularly the adequacy of private security versus state police in protecting strategic national assets.On the evening of 18 January 2025, armed intruders struck Namdia’s offices in Klein Windhoek, killing senior protection officer Francis “Gosh” Eiseb and Max Endjala, chief operations officer of Trustco Group’s internal and forensics investigations unit. “Max was a valued member of the Trustco family for more than 21 years,” the company said, flying its flag at half-mast for five days in his honour.Anniversary marked with new arrestIn the days that followed, police investigations focused on how the suspects gained entry and whether they had inside assistance. Several Namdia employees were arrested, including security officer Charles Rhoman, who was apprehended this week.“He was trying to tamper with evidence since midyear last year. They tracked him and picked him up,” a source said.Rhoman appeared in Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice, contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), and possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activity.Other suspects include Joel Angula (45), a protection officer and former police officer, charged with murder, armed robbery, attempted murder, and theft of uncut diamonds. Angula has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Former soldier Sam Shololo, also wounded during the robbery, and private security employee Samuel Shipanga were arrested and charged in connection with the heist.Three relatives — George, Charmaine, and Bino Cloete — faced charges including contraventions of POCA and illicit diamond trafficking. Among the nine arrested, only Charmaine Cloete has been granted bail. Investigators say Rhoman is related to the Cloetes.Evidence suggests some stolen diamonds were smuggled into South Africa via known Northern Cape transit points. Authorities from both countries have collaborated to track illicit flows, highlighting the regional dimension of organised crime targeting high-value commodities.Security concerns Namdia’s reliance on private security firm G4S Secure Solutions, contracted in May 2024 for 24/7 armed response and monitoring, came under heavy criticism. The heist prompted a reassessment of how strategic national assets are protected.Interim Namdia leadership, including CEO Lelly Usiku, stressed that diamonds are a strategic national resource requiring meticulous security procedures and close coordination with law enforcement. This marked a shift from private security dependency toward state-led protection.By late 2025, Namdia and the Namibian Police (NamPol) formalised an agreement to tighten security across the diamond value chain, improve information sharing, and mitigate risks in handling, storage, and transportation — a response to vulnerabilities exposed by the heist.Despite ongoing recovery efforts, only about N$40.6 million — roughly 12% of the stolen diamonds — had been recovered by March 2025. The remaining N$274.3 million worth of diamonds is still unaccounted for, reflecting the challenges of tracing rough diamonds once they enter underground markets.Court records indicate that the stolen stockpile comprised 51,196.24 carats of NS 50 Serie diamonds and 530.91 carats of NS 50 Special diamonds, totalling 51,727.15 carats — underlining the scale of the theft.Boardroom upheaval The heist shook Namdia’s senior leadership. CEO Alisa Amupolo, COO Uahoroka Kauta, and security manager Paulinus Sheyapo were suspended, with Amupolo ultimately dismissed in October 2025 over gross negligence and insubordination supposedly unrelated directly to the robbery.Namdia also filed a High Court lawsuit against G4S, accusing the firm of neglecting its duties. G4S initially challenged the claim as “vague and embarrassing,” but after Namdia amended its particulars of claim in December 2025, the objection was withdrawn, allowing civil proceedings to continue into 2026.The Namdia heist has drawn attention from parliamentarians, civil society, and security experts, prompting calls for reforms in governance and risk management across state-owned enterprises handling strategic natural resources.Economically, the theft has affected investor confidence and international perception. Namibia’s diamond sector is a cornerstone of export revenues, and vulnerabilities exposed by the heist influence risk assessments by insurers, buyers, and global partners. Strengthening protection and law enforcement capacity is now a national priority.Unfinished businessA year on, the story remains incomplete. While nearly a dozen suspects have been arrested and a framework for shared security responsibility established between Namdia and NamPol, the majority of stolen diamonds remain missing. Legal proceedings, both criminal and civil, are ongoing, with key court decisions anticipated in 2026.

One year on, only 12% of stolen Namdia diamonds recovered

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-04

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One year on, only 12% of stolen Namdia diamonds recovered

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-04

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