19 arrested for wildlife crime

ELLANIE SMIT A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching). Furthermore wildlife products that were seized included two live pangolin, one pangolin skin, one duiker and four oryx. Meanwhile two suspects were arrested on Friday at the Mbambi village in the Kavango West Region after being found in the possession of a pangolin during a police search. The suspects who are between the ages of 48 and 60 were arrested on the Nkurenkuru Mpungu highway. The value of the pangolin is estimated at N$50 000. In another incident three suspects were arrested on Friday for the theft of a tombstone that was stolen during May at the Golgota Cemetery. According to the police the suspects are aged between 24 and 32 and were arrested when they attempted to take back part of the gravestone which was previously stolen.It is alleged that on Thursday a security guard saw the three suspects in a private vehicle entering the graveyard and later place back part of the stolen gravestone. The driver of the vehicle is apparently a funeral undertaker. The value of the recovered tombstone is N$13 000, while the value of the missing tombstone is N$5 000.In a separate incident a 36-year-old man was arrested after he was found in possession of five blocks of cannabis weighing 2 500 grams. The suspect was arrested on Thursday at Ooievaar Street in Windhoek North. The value of the drugs is estimated to be N$50 000. In another incident on Friday in Kuisebmond, two suspects who are believed to a couple, were arrested for being in the possession of crack cocaine and cannabis. A 35-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested by the police when they were found with five units of crack cocaine, a half moon of crack cocaine and one ballie in Swael Street. The value is estimated at N$3 020. Another two suspects were also arrested on Friday in Kuisebmond after they were found in the possession of cannabis. A 28-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested at Harmetiet Street and are believed to be a couple. The suspects were found in the possession of 224 grams of cannabis during a police operation. The value of the drugs are estimated at N$3 100. A 45-year-old woman was also murdered on this weekend at the Omundaungilo cucashops after she was hit with a brick on her head.It is alleged that a fight broke out between Victoria Hamupolo and another woman on Thursday. It is believed that the deceased started beating the suspect with a brick and the suspect also assaulted the deceased with a brick. Both sustained serious injuries which resulted in them being transported to the Eenhana State Hospital. Hamupolo succumbed to her injuries on Friday. The suspect was arrested. Six suicides were also reported this weekend.

19 arrested for wildlife crime

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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19 arrested for wildlife crime

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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