Justicia
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) is monitoring 24 Namibian nationals identified as being caught up in scam-related activities in Myanmar and Thailand.
The development follows revelations made on Monday by member of parliament and Affirmative Repositioning movement leader Job Amupanda, who said six young Namibians were trafficked out of the country and are being held in Myanmar.
Amupanda said the six were taken to Asia and trafficked to Myanmar, where they are held by the Myanmar military near Shwe Kokko Park, close to the Thailand border. The area is known as a hub for organised crime.
He identified the youths as 22-year-old Tequisha Candice Samuels from Swakopmund, 24-year-old Helena Ndamonghenda Nghifikwa from Windhoek, 26-year-old David Simataa Kamwi from Katima Mulilo, 29-year-old Julia Ndevasheka Shityeni from Epalela, 31-year-old Immanuel Haufiku from Ohakadu, and 34-year-old Ananias Shaanika from Windhoek. Amupanda said all six are alive and that his investigative unit, Eagle 25, has established contact with them.
On Tuesday, the ministry issued an update, saying the situation involves Namibians being lured to the region by transnational criminal syndicates operating under the guise of legitimate employment opportunities, mainly in online recruitment, education and sports.
The ministry said the Namibian government is fully seized with the matter and is providing consular assistance and diplomatic intervention in cooperation with regional authorities and international partners. This includes working with the International Organization for Migration to facilitate repatriation.
According to the ministry, the International Organization for Migration last year assisted in the return of seven Namibian nationals stranded in Myanmar. The government said this highlights the importance of international cooperation in cases involving citizens abroad.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether those affected are victims of trafficking in persons or other criminal circumstances. The ministry said humanitarian assistance and repatriation remain priorities regardless of the final legal classification of each case.
The government said stakeholders, including Interpol, are investigating known trafficking syndicates in the region. These efforts aim to dismantle criminal networks, protect victims and ensure perpetrators face justice.
The ministry confirmed that four Namibians have already been facilitated to return home through the engagement of the High Commission of Namibia in Malaysia, with their arrival expected soon.
The government acknowledged the distress faced by families and said all diplomatic and humanitarian avenues are being pursued. The ministry urged Namibians to exercise caution when considering overseas opportunities and to verify offers through the Ministry of International Relations and Trade or Namibian missions abroad before travelling.
The Namibian police previously confirmed awareness of the case and said they are working with the ministry on the matter.
In July last year, six Namibian nationals were repatriated from Southeast Asia after being trafficked between June 2024 and June 2025. Five were from Myanmar and one from Laos. Their return followed coordination between Namibian authorities and international partners.
In September, the deputy director for immigration and border control in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Chrispin Kamwi, said 706 human trafficking cases were reported in Namibia in 2025. Of these, 36 were confirmed and 680 were classified as high-risk.
Criminal syndicates operate large-scale online scam centres in Southeast Asia, where trafficking for forced criminality has emerged as a growing trend. In February last year, 260 people from 19 countries working in online scamming operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were released by an ethnic armed militia group and handed over to Thai authorities in Mae Sot, Thailand. Of those freed, 258 were identified as victims of human trafficking.
