Police officers’ case taken to anti-drugs agency

What you need to know:

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ernest Mangu, on February 4, this year, suspended the officers, pending investigations into their alleged involvement in the illegal business of drugs.

Dar es Salaam. Nine out of 13 police officers suspected of drug dealing have been handed over to the Commissioner General of the Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority, Mr Rogers Sianga, for further steps.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ernest Mangu, on February 4, this year, suspended the officers, pending investigations into their alleged involvement in the illegal business of drugs.

Mr Mangu had said the Police Force had made the decision and that if it will be proven they have been involved in drug trade, tougher measures would be taken against them.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Simon Sirro told reporters yesterday in the city that the remaining four officers, including former Kinondoni Police Commander Christopher Fuime, would also be handed over to drugs control agency in due course.

“Today (yesterday) we officially handed over these police officers to the Commissioner General. As I attend this meeting to speak to you, the police officers should be boarding a police van which would take them there,” Sirro said, adding:

“We believe that the Commissioner General is going to conduct investigations and if these police officers are implicated, the law will take its course,” Sirro said.

According to Mr Sirro, an operation has already netted 349 people accused of dealing in drugs, including of Agness Gerald, famously known as Masogange who was arrested on Wednesday.

“The operation was launched on February 1, this year. Beside the arrest of those people, we have managed to seize 612 pellets of drugs, 89 rolls of bhang and its 816 rizlas and 19 bundles of khat,” Mr Sirro said.

He said until yesterday, a total of 16 suspects had been taken to court and 24 case files were being prepared. On Masogange, Mr Sirro said the suspect, together with other accused, were yesterday taken to the Chief Government Chemist for blood tests to determine whether they use ilicit drugs. “If they test positive, tomorrow, Masogange will be taken to court.”