The Police Inspector General, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has called upon commanders in regions bordering with neighbouring countries to initiate joint efforts.
These include joint patrols and awareness-raising campaigns along the borders to curb the transnational trafficking of people.
Lieutenant General Shikongo made the call during the commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons at Swakopmund.
The Police Chief further calls on all law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to be vigilant and work together to identify potential victims of trafficking and perpetrators at exit and entry points.
Between January 2021 and December 2022, Namibia has investigated and prosecuted cases of child trafficking involving 28 children inside Namibia and from some neighbouring countries.
The emerging cases of child trafficking, Lieutenant Shikongo explained, are a result of Namibia's porous borders, where Namibia is experiencing an influx of children into Namibia from neighbouring countries in search of better living conditions.
The Police Inspector General speech was read on his behalf by the Erongo Police Commander, Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona.
"Based on the identification trend of the trafficking of young boys between Angola and Namibia, and also between Zambia and Namibia, for employment in Namibia as cattle herders or domestic workers, we are reminded to closely monitor the situation to maintain close relations with law enforcement and other relative stakeholders of the neighbouring countries."
The Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka, says reports of domestic trafficking are on the increase.
"Children are mostly trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and labour exploitation like domestic servitude, agricultural work, factory work, and mining. As a result, affected children are being deprived of the good family, education, and bright future that every child deserves. They face numerous challenges, such as social exclusion and health risks."
The 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons pointed out economic, social, and cultural factors as contributors to human trafficking.