Day: March 16, 2024

The Namibian Police Force in the Oshikoto Region have arrested a 43-year-old man after he allegedly raped his 10-year-old daughter. According to the region's crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Saturday, the incident happened on Thursday at Uuholamo village in the Okankolo Constituency. The suspect is the biological father of the victim and they reside in the same house at Uuholamo. 'It is alleged that the suspect found the daughter in the sleeping room during the afternoon after school and the suspect grabbed her, put her down on the bed, undressed her, and had sexual intercourse with her under coercive circumstances,' Ekandjo said. He added that the man afterwards went to a cuca shop. 'The victim reported the matter to teachers at her school on Friday when she went to school. She also said that it was not the first time that her father raped her, he allegedly started doing that to her since 2020,' Ekandjo said. He said the school principal reported the matter to the police. The suspect will appear before the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Monday while the police investigation continues. Source: Namibia Press Agency

Vienna - Morocco's efforts in combating trafficking of psychotropic and psychoactive substances were highlighted at a high-level side-event held in Vienna on Friday, organized alongside the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The meeting, held under the theme "Protecting global health and safety: mounting a unified international response to synthetic drugs and their precursors" and organised by the United States of America in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted Morocco's "balanced and integrated" approach to addressing the harmful effects of illicit synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances. The Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, noted Morocco's significant challenges with trafficking in these substances, revealing that Moroccan authorities seized over 8 million tablets, including ecstasy and psychoactive substances, from 2019 to 2023, with a total of 3,736,888 tablets seized betwee n 2015 and 2023. In efforts to prevent and counter the illicit use of synthetic drugs, Farhane highlighted Morocco's national strategy for preventing and managing addictive disorders, developed by the Ministry of Health. This strategy focuses on promoting mental health, enhancing care provision and professional skills, reducing risks associated with drug injection, strengthening governance and partnerships in addiction management, and safeguarding the rights of individuals affected by addictive disorders, he explained. Farhane also highlighted the efforts made by the Moroccan authorities to detect, seize and prevent trafficking in synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances, praising the "fruitful cooperation" between Morocco and its partners in the fight against drug trafficking. "I would like to mention in particular the seizure of 490,000 synthetic opioid tablets in Tangiers in the course of 2021, thanks to information provided by the US Drug Enforcement Agency", he told participants at the meeting, wh ich was opened by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ghada Waly. Farhane underscored the significance of the side-event amidst an unprecedented rise in production, trafficking, and use of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances globally, which he described as "great concern to the international community". "This unique moment gives us the opportunity to discuss and share best practices and experiences in our common daily fight against the harmful effects of synthetic drugs," said Farhane, welcoming the launch of the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats, last July. As a member of this global coalition, Morocco is convinced that "together with the other members, we can meet the challenges posed by synthetic drugs, for the well-being of our populations and the prosperity of our societies," noted the diplomat, describing the coalition as "a significant platform for sharing best practice and experience in managing the threats posed by synthetic d rugs and other psychoactive substances." He said that the growing threats posed by synthetic drugs meant that we needed to coordinate our actions, build our capacities and put in place a work plan "to meet the new challenges posed by synthetic drugs as a global health problem." With this in mind, the diplomat stressed the need to create "synergy, momentum and complementarity" between the Coalition and the CND, as well as with other relevant UN bodies, and to strengthen regular exchanges and dialogue with the multilateral processes in Vienna, Geneva and New York. In addition to Farhane, the only African ambassador to take part in this side-event, the meeting was attended by the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Jallal Toufiq, ambassadors, permanent representatives, diplomats, UN experts, representatives of international organisations and government officials. Created at the initiative of the United States, the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats aims to bring toge ther key international players, governments, intergovernmental organisations, specialised agencies, civil society and the private sector for concerted action to address the challenges posed by synthetic drugs on a global scale. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse A 29-year-old woman was reportedly beaten to death with a gun by her 30-year-old boyfriend on Saturday. He then allegedly committed suicide by hanging. The Namibian Police Force Omusati Regional Commander, Commissioner Ismael Basson said the incident occurred around 05h00 at Onandjaba settlement in the Okalongo Constituency. The deceased was identified as Hilya Nekongo, a bartender at Onandjaba. According to Basson, the couple allegedly got into an argument and the suspect went and robbed the firearm from a security guard who was on duty, and proceeded to chase his girlfriend. 'It is alleged that the boyfriend hit the victim on the forehead with a shotgun butt, and the girlfriend died on the spot,' he said. He added that the suspect left the scene and was found hanging under a tree. Police investigations into the matter continue. Source: Namibia Press Agency

Four women on Saturday morning were allegedly attacked and robbed of three cellphones inside a church at Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa Region. Namibian Police Force (NamPol) community affairs commander in the region, Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Saturday said the four victims aged 22, 42, 47 and 65 years were in the church early praying. She stated that while praying, two unknown male suspects forcefully entered the church through the main door and ordered them to obey their instructions. 'The two suspects who were allegedly armed with knives allegedly used such weapons to attack the women,' said Mbeha. The victims' hands were also allegedly tied with ropes by the suspects, who further proceeded to search them and took away three smartphones from them, she said. NamPol members at Okahandja were still busy to determine the exact value of the three cellphones, added Mbeha. A case of robbery was registered at the Okahandja Police Station the same morning, and no arrest has been made so far in connection with the matter. Police investigations continue. Source: Namibia Press Agency

Vienna - Morocco's efforts in combating trafficking of psychotropic and psychoactive substances were highlighted at a high-level side-event held in Vienna on Friday, organized alongside the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The meeting, held under the theme "Protecting global health and safety: mounting a unified international response to synthetic drugs and their precursors" and organised by the United States of America in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted Morocco's "balanced and integrated" approach to addressing the harmful effects of illicit synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances. The Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco in Vienna, Azzeddine Farhane, noted Morocco's significant challenges with trafficking in these substances, revealing that Moroccan authorities seized over 8 million tablets, including ecstasy and psychoactive substances, from 2019 to 2023, with a total of 3,736,888 tablets seized betwee n 2015 and 2023. In efforts to prevent and counter the illicit use of synthetic drugs, Farhane highlighted Morocco's national strategy for preventing and managing addictive disorders, developed by the Ministry of Health. This strategy focuses on promoting mental health, enhancing care provision and professional skills, reducing risks associated with drug injection, strengthening governance and partnerships in addiction management, and safeguarding the rights of individuals affected by addictive disorders, he explained. Farhane also highlighted the efforts made by the Moroccan authorities to detect, seize and prevent trafficking in synthetic drugs and psychoactive substances, praising the "fruitful cooperation" between Morocco and its partners in the fight against drug trafficking. "I would like to mention in particular the seizure of 490,000 synthetic opioid tablets in Tangiers in the course of 2021, thanks to information provided by the US Drug Enforcement Agency", he told participants at the meeting, wh ich was opened by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Executive Director of the UNODC, Ghada Waly. Farhane underscored the significance of the side-event amidst an unprecedented rise in production, trafficking, and use of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances globally, which he described as "great concern to the international community". "This unique moment gives us the opportunity to discuss and share best practices and experiences in our common daily fight against the harmful effects of synthetic drugs," said Farhane, welcoming the launch of the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats, last July. As a member of this global coalition, Morocco is convinced that "together with the other members, we can meet the challenges posed by synthetic drugs, for the well-being of our populations and the prosperity of our societies," noted the diplomat, describing the coalition as "a significant platform for sharing best practice and experience in managing the threats posed by synthetic d rugs and other psychoactive substances." He said that the growing threats posed by synthetic drugs meant that we needed to coordinate our actions, build our capacities and put in place a work plan "to meet the new challenges posed by synthetic drugs as a global health problem." With this in mind, the diplomat stressed the need to create "synergy, momentum and complementarity" between the Coalition and the CND, as well as with other relevant UN bodies, and to strengthen regular exchanges and dialogue with the multilateral processes in Vienna, Geneva and New York. In addition to Farhane, the only African ambassador to take part in this side-event, the meeting was attended by the President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Jallal Toufiq, ambassadors, permanent representatives, diplomats, UN experts, representatives of international organisations and government officials. Created at the initiative of the United States, the Global Coalition to Combat Synthetic Drug Threats aims to bring toge ther key international players, governments, intergovernmental organisations, specialised agencies, civil society and the private sector for concerted action to address the challenges posed by synthetic drugs on a global scale. Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse