NEFF sounds alarm on drug cartel collusion in Namibian law enforcement

By: Staff Reporter

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) parliamentarianP Kalimbo Iipumbu has raised concerns over possible collusion between drug cartels and Namibian law enforcement, demanding urgent action to tackle corruption.
Iipumbu directed his questions on Thursday to the minister of safety and security, Lucia Iipumbu.

His questions come after NamPol reported over N$6 million in drug seizures during June and July, with hundreds of arrests involving both Namibian and foreign nationals.

“Is the Honourable Minister aware of any links between these cartels and officials working at our ports of entry, border posts, or within our own police force, and if so, what measures are being taken to root out such collusion,” he asked.

Iipumbu warns that while seizures and arrests are celebrated, the true leaders of the drug trade remain largely untouched.
He inquired about the origin of these syndicates, including foreign-based operations from Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as homegrown Namibian networks.

“These numbers, rather than signalling progress, raise serious concerns about the existence of entrenched and sophisticated cartels operating within our borders.”

“While ordinary drug users and runners constitute the biggest number of arrests, it is clear that you have failed to kill the head of the snake which is the drug barons and cartel leaders themselves,” he said.

Iipumbu said most arrests target low-level users and runners, leaving senior cartel figures free to operate.
NEFF insists that true progress in the “war on drugs” requires dismantling entire syndicates, not just celebrating seizures.