WALVIS BAY – Police in the Erongo region are investigating two major theft cases, including the stealing of nearly 700 seal bull genitals from a Henties Bay factory and the disappearance of 25 Friesian horses from a farm in Omaruru.

This is according to Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula, who on Friday indicated that suspects on Thursday broke into the Henties Bay seal factory and stole 696 seal bull genitals, 2 225 pulp genital pieces, as well as a laptop and hard drive.

Shomongula said the suspects removed the office door before gaining entry.

“The worth of the stolen items is about N$950 000, and nothing has been recovered yet,” she said.

Seal genitalia is considered a luxury aphrodisiac in parts of East Asia, especially China, where it is believed to enhance male performance and is used in traditional medicine or processed into supplements.

However, the industry has faced law enforcement pressure in the past. In December last year, authorities confiscated 217kg of dried seal genitals linked to the same factory. They attempted to reclaim 501 boxes of seal products but their application was dismissed in the Katutura Magistrate’s Court after the company failed to prove proper authorisation and ownership of the seized stock. NamRA officers and the Blue Rhino Task Team carried out that seizure in Windhoek under the Wildlife Products and Trade Act last year.

In a separate case, the police in Omaruru are investigating the theft of 25 Friesian horses valued at about N$1.25 million from Farm Kassandara Game.

“The theft allegedly happened between July 2022 and March 2025. We believe that the horses were already sold,” Shomongula said. She said no arrest has been made and none of the horses were recovered. The police are appealing to the public to assist them with any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects and tracing of the horses. The complainant is a 68-year-old woman.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Inspector Sakaria Shikalepo at 0812735662 or the nearest police station. – edeklerk@nepc.com.na