On 29 May 2025 Namibian Police in Otjozondjupa, after an intelligence-driven operation that began near Okahandja, uncovered a cannabis plantation on a commercial farm at Hochfeld.[1][2] Visits to four known selling points in Windhoek found vendors out of stock following the arrests.[3] The plantation and factory were uncovered after officers stopped and searched a car at the Okahandja-Hochfeld roadblock and found 52 large sachets.[3] Deputy commissioner Edna Nawa said irrigation was in use and that a green plantation of about 1.55 hectares was still being cultivated.[1] Police were considering whether to destroy the plantation with chemicals or a grader.[3] Five corrugated-iron rooms were used for safekeeping, drying, packaging and loading.[1][3]
Police said they found dried cannabis weighing over 512 kg (street value given as N$5.1 million), packed bags of cannabis weighing nearly 11,000 kg (about N$10.8 million), packed skunk weighing 725 kg (N$36,280), and two half Mandrax tablets (N$120), for a total estimated value of more than N$52 million.[1]
Armand Carel Schultz, 27, a South African national and farm manager, and David Strauss van der Linden, 43, the farm owner, were arrested and later sought bail in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court.[2][3] The two suspects were denied bail in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court and the case was postponed to 23 June for a formal bail application.[3] New Era also names farm driver Johannes Kamati, 61, and Jakob Ganai, 43, as suspects in the same case.[2] The accused faced charges including possession and dealing in drugs, organised crime and racketeering.[1][2][3] Police said the seized consignment was destined for Windhoek and Okahandja.[3]
