An employee of Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has been arrested in connection with the diamond robbery that took place at the company’s offices last year.
The latest arrest brings the total number of Namdia’s employees arrested in the case to four. The diamond company announced yesterday that the staff member was arrested in relation to the robbery that happened on 18 January 2025.
The heist left two employees dead last year. Namdia spokesperson Beverley Coussement said the arrest follows continued cooperation between the company and law enforcement officers. She confirmed that investigations into the robbery are still ongoing.
During the heist, diamonds valued at N$314.9 million were stolen. So far, diamonds worth N$40.6 million have been recovered.
The employee implicated in the case has been placed on immediate suspension without pay. This will remain in place while both the internal disciplinary process and the criminal investigation continue.
“We commend and sincerely thank the Namibian Police Force for their continued efforts, professionalism, and dedication throughout this complex investigation. Their support and commitment have been critical in advancing the case and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable,” she said.
Namdia, a diamond marketing and sales company established in 2016 by the government, markets a portion of Namibia’s diamonds. The entity, which trades as a private company, was established to market Namibia’s diamonds independently as part of a price discovery exercise under an agreement between the government and its partner, the global diamond giant De Beers.
This agreement compelled the government, De Beers joint venture (Namdeb Holdings), to make 15% of its yearly production – estimated to be worth around N$2.6 billion – available to Namdia, which would then independently trade them on the international market.
