WALVIS BAY – The Erongo police have warned taxi operators in Walvis Bay against transporting packages without knowing their contents.
The police and fire brigade held a meeting with taxi drivers yesterday to address concerns about criminal activities involving public transport and to discuss the overall operations of taxis in the town.
Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula said several taxi drivers are currently in custody after being implicated in criminal activities. According to some of them, they were simply delivering packages without knowing the content, resulting in their arrest.
“That is the reason why some taxi drivers are arrested. We will arrest you if drugs or illegal items are found in your vehicle. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are not used for criminal activities,” she said.
Hence, the police encouraged taxi drivers to take an active role in fighting crime in the Erongo region by not only engaging the police but also becoming informers when they come across suspicious packages.
“We noticed a gap between the police and public transport operators. We are encouraging you to form a forum or group to work with the police or to join as reservists or informants. You could even be rewarded for useful information,” she explained.
Between October 2025 and February 2026, the police seized drugs worth N$2.5 million in Erongo, Shomongula told the police officers. Acting Erongo commissioner, Detective Chief Inspector Eric Ngaw, said the risks of transporting stolen property or carrying passengers should be a concern for taxi operators.
“Your taxi can be impounded if it is used in a crime. You may see what happened to others—the person who sent you will deny involvement, and you will face the consequences. Transporting people after a housebreaking, robbery, or any other crime can result in serious trouble. Your vehicle can be forfeited to the state,” he said.
He also urged drivers to have reliable communication with the police and among themselves while also keeping contact numbers handy.
However, taxi drivers during the meeting also raised concern about their overall safety, unlicensed taxi drivers and the behaviour of authorities.
According to Simon Tatemanene, there have been attacks on taxi drivers in the past; however, when they called on the police, no assistance was provided.
He also expressed his frustration over unlicensed drivers on the roads and poor road conditions.
Another driver, Stephanus Hamutenya, said that they feel targeted even though there is a growing number of unlicensed drivers operating in the town.
Hamutenya said this situation creates unfair competition and safety risks for registered operators.
“Many are transporting passengers without the required licences or permits, yet law-abiding taxi drivers are the ones who are often penalised when traffic violations occur,” he said.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na