WINDHOEK – Five Namibians wanted for crimes ranging from theft, murder and robbery are on Interpol’s most wanted list for crimes they have committed.
They are David Nicanor (44), Lazarus Shaduka (40), Namupolo Gabriel (39), Joseph Amalovu (41) and Matias Simson (32). Shaduka is wanted for murder, Gabriel for robbery with aggravating circumstances, Amalovu for motor vehicle theft and Simson for theft by embezzlement. Most of the suspects are believed to be hiding in other countries.
Only one Namibian is on Interpol’s missing persons list, she is yet to be found after disappearing 18 years ago. She is Wendoline Shantell van Wyk who went missing in 1995 in Windhoek at the age of 12. Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner, Edwin Kanguatjivi, suspects the wanted suspects are hiding outside the borders of Namibia. “That is the only reason why we list them on Interpol. But I think the number of missing persons on the Interpol list is manageable,” said Kanguatjivi. Kanguatjivi also said there has been no new developments with regard to the unknown whereabouts of murder suspect, Lazarus Shaduka. There are currently 14 503 records worldwide of missing persons and wanted suspects listed on Interpol. South Africa has the highest number of cases of missing and wanted persons on the African continent, 1170.
Interpol is the world’s largest international police organisation, with 190 member countries, including Namibia. Its role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Interpol’s high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century. All member countries are connected through a secure communications system known as I-24/7. This gives police real-time access to criminal databases containing millions of records. Interpol’s unique system of notices is used to alert member countries to fugitives, dangerous criminals, missing persons or weapons threats.
By Mathias Haufiku