KATIMA MULILO – The Namibian Police in the Zambezi region have recorded five cases of vehicle scams in the last three months, the latest case involving two agricultural trucks valued at about N$2.8 million.

They were intercepted.

It is a situation that is leaving the police with sleepless nights.

During a media briefing recently, Zambezi police commissioner Andreas Shilelo said the two tractors were ordered from Otjiwarongo, and were deceptively supposed to be delivered at the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA) in Katima Mulilo. However, they were intercepted when the salesman became suspicious after he was told to deliver them somewhere else other than at the office of the alleged purchaser.

“All documents were prepared, as if really ordered and a sealed deal to purchase these two tractors. The owner prepared to come to Katima Mulilo, and upon arrival yesterday at AMTA, they could not establish really whether these tractors were ordered by AMTA. All they met were two gentlemen who portrayed themselves as employees of AMTA, and they were ready to receive the tractors,” stated Shilelo.

He further cautioned car dealers to always do proper investigations to establish whether the purchasers are who they say they are, before they proceed to deliver the vehicles. He pointed out that in one of the recent cases, which was reported in August, two brand-new Isuzu double-cab bakkies that were apparently supposed to be delivered to NamPower in Katima Mulilo were delivered to scammers, and were never recovered.

“We do not know how these people get all this documentation out of the websites or offices of these individual companies and parastatals. For example, for NamPower, they were really the real documents NamPower uses when they are purchasing their vehicles elsewhere. When you look at it, one can agree as a manager of the company, and release the vehicles. This is a situation I really want to caution the people to make sure to double-check,” advised the police commissioner.

Shilelo stated that the police suspect that the same people who stole the two Isuzu double-cabs are the same people who wanted to steal the two tractors. He added that all the stolen vehicles are suspected to be crossing into Zambia.

Pius Josef, a salesman from Hoffman’s Farm Implements in Otjiwarongo, stated that he was thankful that the scam did not go through, as this was going to be a huge loss to the company.

“I am so happy. It is like a dream. I cannot explain my happiness that the tractors are not gone; we still have them. I cannot explain this. I called the commander and responded quickly, and I am so happy he did a good job,” stated Josef.

The two alleged scammers have not yet been arrested after they vanished when they realised that they were being cornered by the salesmen.

*Aaron Mushaukwa is an information officer in the MICT in the Zambezi region.