Windhoek — The police made a major breakthrough in an anti-drug trafficking operation on Wednesday night when they confiscated a huge dagga consignment worth N$1.9 million - the largest ever in the history of the Khomas Region.

The police have had their sights set on drug dealers operating from South Africa, Angola, and Botswana to smuggle drugs through and into Namibia. Police have been following two 'hardcore drug dealers' in South Africa since June this year.

"We got a hint somewhere in South Africa, Durban that this man (the suspect) is linked to one drug dealer - the biggest supplier to Namibia. So we followed his activities for two weeks in South Africa. We monitored him through Botswana until last night when he passed the border.

We were hot on his tracks and we liaised with our colleagues at the border to let him pass. He stopped between Brakwater and the [Von Eck] power station here in Windhoek," Shilongo explained.

He further said since it was late they continued to monitor the progress of the truck. Police feared when dagga dealers came to collect the contraband they could come armed, hence they decided to hit the truck first.

"If the people come and pick up their stuff there - it might erupt into a shooting because these people are also armed. While it was parked there, we decided to hit the truck and we arrested the driver. And we found N$1.9 million worth of poison that was supposed to go to Windhoek alone," he said.

At one point a female companion accompanied the truck driver. But at the time of his arrest around 01h00, he was alone.

The truck had 24 bags of dagga well wrapped and stashed between cardboard boxes. The owner of the truck does not know that his truck is being used to transport drugs.

The truck belongs to a well-known transport company at Okahandja.

The suspect is detained at the Katutura police station and is due to appear in the Katutura Magistrate's Court today.

Shilongo dedicated the success to the heroes and heroines, as the country prepares to celebrate Heroes' Day and also to the Inspector-General, Sebastian Ndeitunga, who guided and supported the police in the operation.

"Heroes and heroines died fighting these types of injustices. The success is also dedicated to the Inspector-General who just received an award from the National Public Training Authority in Britain," Shilongo said. He said drugs affect everyone and called on all Namibians to join the police in confiscating all illegal drugs.

Shilongo reiterated his call to 'Secure Khomas for all' and issued a stern warning to drug dealers using Namibia as a transit for drugs destined for neighbouring countries.