FOUR male suspects were arrested at Omafo village in the Ohangwena region after being found operating an illegal fuel business, during the Namibian Police operation Twagwanekera, which is being conducted in Ohangwena and Kavango West regions.
The suspects aged 20, 33, 46 and a 57 year-old who was caught fuelling his car at the scene, are suspected to have smuggled the
fuel from Angola. Angolan fuel is markedly cheaper than local fuel and Namibians living along the border with Angola often smuggle the fuel (ngungula) for resale in Namibia. According to the police, Operation Twagwanekera began on Saturday 9 March and will continue for an unspecified time.
‘Twagwanekera’ is a Rukwangali word meaning the connection of two neighbouring regions at their border to jointly fight crime
as neighbours. The fuel was stored at Namundjebo Guesthouse/Complex at Omafo village in the Ohangwena region.
“Today at about 10h30, a house was raided, and diesel and petrol containers were discovered just along the road. “It’s alleged that the suspects kept smuggled diesel and petrol for sale to members of the public without valid permit or documents. The owner failed to account for the fuel consignment. Three 1 000-litre containers with a combined 1 660 litres of diesel, 22 by 25-litre containers full of petrol and 18 empty 25-litre containers were also confiscated,’’ said Raimbert Muronga of the Namibian Police.
Muronga said suspects will be charged at later stage. “Police are at the scene collecting more evidence. The owner will face the main charge of possession and dealing in illegal fuel, while the 57-year-old man who was caught fuelling his car at the place will also be charged accordingly,’’ he said.
The police have urged members of the public to refrain from buying smuggled fuel as they risked arrest.