Windhoek: A man was arrested after police intercepted a vehicle transporting suspected stolen meat during a routine traffic patrol on the Western Bypass Road (B1) in Windhoek on Friday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Namibian Police head of community affairs in the Khomas Region, Chief Inspector Katrina Naukushu, confirmed the incident, stating that the arrest followed a successful police operation in the Hochland Park area. "Traffic officers were on patrol when they came across a vehicle transporting meat. Two other vehicles were escorting this vehicle, but when they realised that police were present, they fled the scene," Naukushu said.

She added that only the driver of the intercepted vehicle was arrested, while the other two vehicles managed to escape. Preliminary investigations suggest that the meat is suspected to have originated from stolen cattle. The meat was unskinned and still bore visible brand marks, which will assist investigators in tracing its origin.

Naukushu mentioned that the investigators are working to establish the owner of the cattle. The police are already in contact with counterparts in other regions to determine the cattle's origin. Once the rightful owner is identified, the meat will be returned to them.

Stock theft remains one of the most prevalent crimes affecting livestock farmers in Namibia, particularly cattle farmers. Naukushu addressed the measures taken by the police to combat stock theft, highlighting the collaboration between law enforcement and farming communities through crime prevention forums.

She emphasized that the police are working closely with farmers and associations such as Farmers Against Crime and neighborhood watches. However, Naukushu acknowledged the limitation of police resources and stressed the importance of community cooperation in preventing crime. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.