Oshakati — The police in the Oshana region have smashed a syndicate behind a string of gambling machine thefts.

The gambling machines are readily sold to buyers in Angola.

Nine of the suspects, among them four Angolan nationals and five Namibians, are in custody facing charges of a seemingly well-marshalled cross-border criminal racket.

Arrests took place at Ongwediva and Oshakati on Sunday morning, the police told New Era at Oshakati.

The number of suspects initially stood at 10 but one is still at large, according to Oshana Regional Commander Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa.

Kashihakumwa said the suspect is well-known to the police and it is just a matter of time before the police apprehend him.

Police acted on a tip-off from a member of the public on the whereabouts of two stolen gambling machines from Elim and 777 Bottle Store in Oshakati.

The two gambling machines were recovered at a house occupied by Angolan nationals at Ongwediva.

Police also found two cutting torches and two bolt cutters believed to be the tools of the trade of those apprehended.

They also recovered N$10800 from N$30000 believed to have been advanced to the suspects by an unknown Angolan who has been buying the machines. The nine were expected to appeal in Oshakati Magistrate Court yesterday.

Kashihakumwa said the arrests, within a few hours, was one of the Oshana police successes.

"We succeed because of assistance from members of the public in our regions. I thank them for their continued assistance to the police in combating crime," Kashihakumwa said.

He said police in Oshana is working hard to rid the region of crime.

Meanwhile, in another incident, the Oshana police arrested suspects who allegedly robbed the house of a prominent businessman, Zion Sheehama, the owner of Zionist Funeral Services in the north and got away with N$8000.

Mateus Ndimukwetele (33), Onesmus Michael (25), Nuujoma Johannes (29) are behind bars in connection with the robbery.

A policewoman, Veronika Uugwanga, was also arrested in connection with the robbery but the court ordered here release. Police is also looking for Lukas Alweendo in connection with the same case.