The Namibian police are probing what they describe as a wider international crime syndicate dealing in abortion pills, following the arrest of a 49-year-old woman in Swakopmund on Friday.
The suspect, who was apprehended in Tamariskia, allegedly attempted to sell 16 abortion tablets valued at N$3,200 to an undercover police officer. Authorities believe this arrest is just the “tip of the iceberg,” as the network reportedly stretches across multiple towns in Namibia.
According to police reports, the operation is run by foreign nationals who pose as “medical doctors” and use local agents to distribute the pills illegally. The arrested suspect is expected to be charged under the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act of 2003, as amended.
Police spokespersons indicated that more arrests are imminent as investigations intensify.
In a related incident, the Namibian police in Katutura have launched a separate investigation after a foetus was discovered in a waste bin along Prium Street, Shandumbala, on Sunday morning. The discovery has raised further concerns about the proliferation of unsafe and illegal abortions in the country.
Law enforcement has reiterated its warning against the illegal sale and use of abortion pills, cautioning the public to seek professional medical assistance through legal channels.
