Windhoek
The country’s prisons and police holding cells are apparently the most lucrative market for drug lords, according correctional service officers and police officers, who spoke to New Era.
The officers also hint at the possibility of well-connected drug trafficking syndicates that involve inmates, police officers and correctional services, as well as visitors to the correctional services, who smuggle illicit items into prisons across the country.
“Our prisons and police holding cells in Namibia have been identified by drug dealers as good markets for drugs. They will do everything possible to keep the market moving and some corrupt officers are at the forefront of such businesses,” said the correctional officers, who requested anonymity.
Police Inspector General Lieutenant Sebastian Ndeitunga said, “This is a result of corrupt police officers, who are working with members of the public who bring food to inmates. The visitors sometimes stuff cellphones or drugs in between items, such as bread.”
Ndeitunga said they face a serious challenge in the police force, because there are corrupt officers, who allow members of the public to smuggle unauthorised products into the cells. He said law enforcement officials are working to minimise the trafficking of illicit items into holding cells and prisons.
However, current figures show that in June prisoners across the country’s correctional services were found with 144 illegal items, including drugs, such as cannabis, mandrax and cocaine. They were also found with alcohol, cellphones, wads of money, knives and other sharp objects.
Also during the first five months of 2016 at least 78 cellphones were confiscated from inmates in correctional service facilities and holding cells. The number is more than half the 146 cellphones confiscated in 2015.
Ndeitunga said the police are trying their level best to address the corruption of certain police officers, who smuggle illicit substances, such cannabis, into police holding cells and correctional facilities. He also warned corrupt officers, who are involved in aiding inmates to smuggle illicit items and substances.
The officers who spoke to New Era also said some of the convicts have well-established connections with syndicates outside that facilitate smuggling and trafficking of these items within the prisons and police holding cells. They also said some of the prisoners are breadwinners and try to take care of their families while in prison. The officers also revealed that typically the main drug dealers inside are those convicts, who ended up in police holding cells and prison in the first place as a result of dealing in drugs.