Officers nabbed for profiting from confiscated ‘ngungula’
Police urge public to report culprits
Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo has confirmed that some officers who seize illicit fuel in the Ohangwena region – popularly known as “ngungula” – sometimes sell or use it themselves, an act that constitutes a crime.
Ngungula is smuggled from Angola, where it is cheaper than at Namibian service stations.
Shikongo made the remarks this week in an interview with Namibian Sun, noting that several police officers have been arrested for possessing the cross-border smuggled fuel.
"We have arrested quite a number of police officers, and some have active cases with the courts," he confirmed.
"Mostly the cases that I am having of police arrested for involving fuel happened in the Ohangwena region. We have two to three police officers who failed to book it in or made it theirs.”
Shikongo’s comments confirm recent claims by Oshikango residents who have accused the police of failing to take the issue of smuggled fuel seriously and said that some officers also benefit from it.
“No one is allowed, including police officers, to confiscate any contraband and make it yours," the police chief stressed.
"If you have information about a police officer confiscating fuel or any other products and starting to sell them, taking it to their homes or putting it in their cars, report them,” he said.
Worries about police behaviour
During a recent visit to Oshikango, community members also called for a lifestyle audit of police officers in the Ohangwena region, alleging that some have adopted a lavish lifestyle.
“It is not that police officers should be poor, but if you go around the country, you hear stories of police officers suffering because of what they are remunerated, but that is not the case in Oshikango," a resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged.
"They are driving expensive cars, and they are developing properties, and one wonders, where do they get the money?"
The individual urged law enforcement to investigate officers living beyond their means and to address the issue of smuggled fuel once and for all.
"Fuel stations in Oshikango are probably being kept alive by government vehicles and those motorists who choose not to use the illegal route," the resident added.
The source also suggested that police officers caught selling or using illicit fuel should face strict punishment as a deterrent.
“If they get away with a light sentence or a fine, the issue of ngungula will continue or even worsen,” the resident warned.
Flow of illicit goods
In June, it was reported that between 2024 and the first half of this year, smuggled fuel worth N$17 million was confiscated in Oshana region.
Oshana lies tens of kilometres from the porous borders between Namibia and southern Angola. With Ohangwena and Omusati regions directly bordering Angola, it is believed that the volume of fuel smuggled into Oshana is far lower than in those two regions.
Shikongo also added there is nothing wrong with a Namibian driving into Angola to fill up at a fuel station, noting that many people there have families to support.
He stressed that it only becomes a crime if the fuel is purchased from those trading illegally.
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Ngungula is smuggled from Angola, where it is cheaper than at Namibian service stations.
Shikongo made the remarks this week in an interview with Namibian Sun, noting that several police officers have been arrested for possessing the cross-border smuggled fuel.
"We have arrested quite a number of police officers, and some have active cases with the courts," he confirmed.
"Mostly the cases that I am having of police arrested for involving fuel happened in the Ohangwena region. We have two to three police officers who failed to book it in or made it theirs.”
Shikongo’s comments confirm recent claims by Oshikango residents who have accused the police of failing to take the issue of smuggled fuel seriously and said that some officers also benefit from it.
“No one is allowed, including police officers, to confiscate any contraband and make it yours," the police chief stressed.
"If you have information about a police officer confiscating fuel or any other products and starting to sell them, taking it to their homes or putting it in their cars, report them,” he said.
Worries about police behaviour
During a recent visit to Oshikango, community members also called for a lifestyle audit of police officers in the Ohangwena region, alleging that some have adopted a lavish lifestyle.
“It is not that police officers should be poor, but if you go around the country, you hear stories of police officers suffering because of what they are remunerated, but that is not the case in Oshikango," a resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged.
"They are driving expensive cars, and they are developing properties, and one wonders, where do they get the money?"
The individual urged law enforcement to investigate officers living beyond their means and to address the issue of smuggled fuel once and for all.
"Fuel stations in Oshikango are probably being kept alive by government vehicles and those motorists who choose not to use the illegal route," the resident added.
The source also suggested that police officers caught selling or using illicit fuel should face strict punishment as a deterrent.
“If they get away with a light sentence or a fine, the issue of ngungula will continue or even worsen,” the resident warned.
Flow of illicit goods
In June, it was reported that between 2024 and the first half of this year, smuggled fuel worth N$17 million was confiscated in Oshana region.
Oshana lies tens of kilometres from the porous borders between Namibia and southern Angola. With Ohangwena and Omusati regions directly bordering Angola, it is believed that the volume of fuel smuggled into Oshana is far lower than in those two regions.
Shikongo also added there is nothing wrong with a Namibian driving into Angola to fill up at a fuel station, noting that many people there have families to support.
He stressed that it only becomes a crime if the fuel is purchased from those trading illegally.
[email protected]
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