Namibian Police (Nampol) officers at Omuthiya are accused of being in bed with drug dealers, resulting in the escalation of drug abuse and crime in the town.
Members of the public allege that the Nampol drug law enforcement unit at the northern town is in the pockets of the dealers.
According to one resident who preferred to remain anonymous, there have been complaints from members of the public about drugs (cannabis) being openly sold at several houses in the town’s Okaniita location. These complaints were reportedly reported to the police, but no action was reportedly taken.
“I have myself made several reports to the officers. I have received information and I also investigated and observed that our town (Omuthiya) has become a drug haven. Drugs are sold and consumed openly. The dealers are known, but nothing is being done,” the source said.
The source further indicated that when he inquired about the status of the reports, he was always told the matter had been reported to the responsible unit. “The problem is that the unit does not act. They do not do anything, and we have heard from their colleagues from other units that they would not act because some of them are getting bribes from the dealers,” the source indicated, saying he and a few colleagues from his group were threatened by the dealers when they kept pushing for the matter to be addressed. “What is perplexing is that when we asked about the issue, we were alone. Now, how did the dealers know we were there? Obviously, somebody inside (the police) informed them.”
Also worrying, according to this source, is the fact that schoolchildren are also falling into the trap of using drugs. He indicated that cannabis is the most prevalent drug in the town and that it is smoked openly at several spots. “Youths of school-going age are also always seen loitering at those places every day. This is a sign that those young people might have been hooked on those drugs already. The situation is becoming dangerous,” the source further indicated.
Djeimo Shimakeleni, a resident of Omuthiya, told Confidente that dealers are known in the town, but they appear to be untouchable. “No person who has been living here for over a year can claim not to know these people. They are all known, and the police know them. Some police officers even drink at their shebeens,” he relayed.

SHOES HANGING ON POWER LINES

Shimakeleni said that there is a sign used by drug dealers at Omuthiya, which tells buyers or users where drugs are sold. “This appears to be their language. Wherever you find a shoe or pairs of shoes hanging on a power line, that means drugs are sold on that property. Whether here in Omuthiya, Ondangwa, Tsumeb, or Windhoek, that’s their sign, and even if somebody is new in town and finds that sign and they want drugs, they would not need to ask. We have a lot of power lines with shoes hanging, and the police know that,” he said.
Shimakeleni, a father of two teenage boys, indicated that he now fears that his boys will be influenced to start taking drugs. “I work here and there is nowhere to take them. But life here is getting dangerous. Drugs are highly addictive and can ruin somebody’s life. The police must do something and arrest and remove these dealers from our community.”
Meanwhile, a police officer at the Omuthiya police station told Confidente that currently, it would be difficult for the dealers to be arrested because members of the responsible unit know them. “They are friends. They do all their deals together. You as members of the public might not know, but we know. So, it’s a tricky situation,” the officer said.
The officer, who is a detective, indicated that the trend of police officers working in cahoots with suspects or criminals also has a negative impact on their work. “Imagine investigating a case and then you come to realize that one of your colleagues, although not in the same unit, is implicated. It poisons the work environment and relationships and compromises the quality of work,” she noted.
This officer also volunteered information to this publication that crime at Omuthiya and surrounding villages has soared as of late, something which she attributes to drug abuse among young residents of the areas. “There is no day that passes without a theft case, mugging, or common assault registered at the police station. This is an indication that people are abusing substances,” the officer said.
Oshikoto police regional commander, commissioner Theopolina Kalompo Nashikaku admitted that drug use has indeed become a problem in Omuthiya town. She indicated that several cases of drug dealing were recorded and that arrests have also been made.
“Yes drugs have become a problem in Omuthiya. We have had some people arrested and the cases are with the courts. Most of the users are young people and some of the dealers are also young people,” she noted.
Regarding the allegations of police officers colluding with drug dealers and failing to arrest them, Nashikaku said there are some police officers who are suspected of working in cahoots with the dealers and that one of them is under investigation. She promised that the police in the region will leave no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored in rooting out the officers suspected of aiding drug dealers.
“I know only of one case of a member who is being investigated regarding allegations of working with drug dealers. His case is with the internal investigations division at regional level. We have members who are working hard to combat drug use at regional level, and then you have those who are dragging others’ efforts back by working together with criminals, and this is not going to be tolerated,” she stressed while also cautioning that those officers who are caught working with criminals will face the wrath of the law.