WINDHOEK – The Khomas Region leads in the usage of illicit drugs with cannabis being the most commonly used drug, according to Deputy Commissioner Hermie van Zyl, head of Nampol’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit.
According to Van Zyl, the Erongo Region comes in second, followed by the Oshana and Ohangwena regions. Namibia has become a safe haven for drug smugglers and drug trafficking. A recent report indicated drugs with a street value of N$10 million were confiscated last year in Namibia. Moreover, Namibia has now moved from being a transit route for drug smugglers to a consumer country, where an increasing number of people are being arrested for possession of various types of drugs such as dagga (marijuana), cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin. Last year, the Namibian police recorded 305 arrests for people dealing in drugs, of which the highest number of cases (249) were for the sale of cannabis.
“When it gets quiet, that’s when they change tactics,” said Van Zyl. He added that after cannabis, the most commonly used drugs is crack cocaine, but children start experimenting with drugs, especially benzene and petrol from as early as 10-years-old. He said other common drugs used by teenagers from 16-years onwards are street cocaine, also referred to as ‘klippies’ or ‘beige.’
By Magreth Nunuhe