N$2 million worth of drugs seized in March

The Namibian Police seized drugs amounting to over N$2.1 million in March.

Cannabis seizures accounted for the majority of drugs seized, valued at just over N$2 million, followed by around N$77 000 worth of mandrax and crack cocaine valued at N$12 400.

In early March, Police Commissioner Nelius Becker of the police's Forensic Science Institute (NPFSI) and his team disposed of a cocaine consignment worth N$206 million.

At the time, Becker highlighted several hurdles that prolong a process of this nature.

Becker said the issue of acquiring drug standards for Namibia leads to seized drugs lying in forensic storerooms for years before police can dispose of it.

"There is one supplier of these standards in South Africa and we could not get them to deliver a performance guarantee to us so that we could make an advanced payment, which they insisted on. We are a credible institution, part of the Namibian government. Currently, the health ministry is trying to generate an order for us, but we are at the end of the financial year, with little hope that this will happen soon," he told Namibian Sun last month.