Dagga smuggling suspects in court

WINDHOEK FAITH SANKWASA

Five Namibian men and an Angolan national, who were arrested and charged for dealing in dagga with a street value of N$391 000, were yesterday denied bail by the Rundu Magistrate's Court.
The six form part of an alleged nine-member syndicate that were nabbed by the police at Bunya village situated outside Rundu, on April 25.
They are Depundhi Dominicos Mushoro, 36, Fuu Lazarus Wazungo, 31, Marcelino Luciano Katombela, 26, Shipoya Edward, 20, Muyetu Matheus Ndeke, 29 and Angolan national, Martin Kangandjo, 29.
The six made their first appearance, during which their case was postponed to May 23 for plea and trial. The other three accused have turned State witnesses in the matter.
According to Regional Crime Investigation Co-ordinator, Deputy Commissioner Willie Bampton, the men were allegedly found in possession of dagga from Angola which was destined to be sold in Namibia.
The dagga weighed a total of 130kg.
Bampton suspects the accused crossed between the two countries at an illegal point of entry along the Okavango River.
They (the accused) might have crossed the river between the areas of Katwitwi Border Post and Nkurenkuru. We had been trailing them until the crime was botched before they reached the main town of the region, Bampton said.
In a separate incident at the same region, a case of culpable homicide was opened against 25-year-old Abel Ngonga Chiyesu in connection with the death of nine-year-old Joseph Kayongo Ngongo.
According to a crime report, Chiyesu knocked over Ngongo when he attempted to cross the TransCaprivi Highway near Ndama location. Ngongo died on the spot.