RUNDU – Two police officers appeared in the Rundu Magistrate court yesterday following their arrests on charges of smuggling. The two were arrested on separate days, one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. 

They were caught in high-stakes sting operations after they allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs, cash, ATM cards and SIM cards, amongst other illegal items, into the Rundu Police cells. 

According to official reports, intelligence units received a tip-off about a civilian intending to use a police officer as a mule to bypass security at the court’s holding cells on Wednesday, and police tailed the member of the public to the court gates, where they witnessed the suspect hand over parcels to the police officer. The officer was stationed at the court and was intercepted as he headed toward the cells; a body search of the sergeant uncovered 19 bankies of cannabis and a N$100 banknote. 

On Tuesday at about 13h00, intelligence was also obtained from a reliable source on a member of the public who was intending to facilitate the smuggling of contraband items into Rundu Police holding cells through a police officer. 

“As a result, intelligence was then shared with members of the Police Conduct Investigation and Drug Law Enforcement, of which a covert controlled delivery operation was instituted. During the operation, a member of the public was identified and tailed to Rundu State Hospital from Rundu Magistrate Court, whereby he handed over parcels of contraband items to an on-duty police officer who came from Rundu Police Station to receive the parcels,’’ said the Kavango East Police commissioner, Andreas Haingura. 

“After receiving the parcel, the police officer returned back to the police station to smuggle the items into the holding cells; however, the team intercepted him in the charge office and conducted a body search, and during the body search, contraband items were recovered,” he said. 

Haingura said 11 bankies of cannabis, three cellular phones, four cellular phone batteries, two packets of Yes Cigarettes and 20 loose Yes cigarettes and an FNB ATM card, five MTC sim cards and one TN sim card as well as a USB charger cable and N$280 cash. 

They face several charges, including violations of the Anti- Corruption Act, possession of cannabis, and contravening the Tobacco Products Control Act, amongst other charges. 

-jmuyamba@nep.com.na