No safe haven for drug dealers, warns Tanzania’s enforcement authority

By Hellen Nachilongo

Dar es Salaam. The Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has issued a stern warning to drug traffickers who continue to devise new ways of smuggling narcotics into the country, stressing that no one will be spared regardless of their connections.

The warning follows major breakthroughs in the fight against narcotics, with large consignments seized, cannabis farms destroyed, and hundreds of suspects arrested between July and September 7, 2025.

DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo said on Monday, September 8, 2025 that the authority confiscated 33,077.6 kilogrammes of various narcotics, 4,553 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and destroyed 64 acres of cannabis farms during the period.

“Traffickers are constantly inventing new methods to smuggle drugs, but such attempts will not succeed as the authority is equally committed to countering them,” he said.

According to him, traffickers have gone as far as disguising vehicles linked to reputable companies to transport narcotics. “For instance, there was a case involving a vehicle suspected to be associated with a multinational beverage company that carried drugs. We are investigating whether it belonged to the company or not,” he said.

Mr Lyimo further revealed that some traffickers were obtaining capital from neighbouring countries before attempting to transport drugs into Tanzania.

The crackdown also led to the seizure of two firearms, a shotgun and a pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition, alongside nine motor vehicles, two three-wheelers (bajajis), and 26 motorcycles linked to drug-related crimes. In total, 940 suspects were arrested.

In Dar es Salaam’s Tupendane area of Manzese, Ubungo District, three suspects, including a Lebanese national, were arrested with 2.4 kilogrammes of cocaine. The consignment is believed to have been trafficked from Brazil through Kenya and Uganda before entering Tanzania via unofficial routes.

The authority also raided two entertainment spots, Bad London Club in Temeke and Sanaa Reggae Bar in Masaki, where they seized 50 cannabis-laced electronic cigarettes, each containing 10 millilitres of liquid, reportedly imported from the United Kingdom.

The DCEA warned that the e-cigarettes contained harmful chemicals such as THC, benzene, cadmium, lead and mercury, which pose serious health risks including mental illness, cancer, miscarriages, impaired foetal development, learning disabilities, and long-term addiction.

In another incident at Bahari Beach, an American national and his Tanzanian wife were arrested in possession of 11 bottles of ketamine and cannabis. Legal proceedings are ongoing.

Through courier companies in Dar es Salaam, four individuals were intercepted while attempting to smuggle 10.37 kilogrammes of khat disguised as tea products for shipment abroad.

In Mara Region, authorities captured a notorious drug kingpin, Masero Ryoba Muhabe (44), with 6.5 tonnes of cannabis. Muhabe is alleged to have long operated a cannabis cultivation and trafficking network in Tarime District, distributing both locally and internationally.

Another suspect, Simoni Gervas Mkonda (51), was arrested in Mara with 193 kilogrammes of cannabis and an unlicensed pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition, allegedly used to protect his illegal trade.

In Mbeya, two suspects, Henry Shao (36) and Veronika Samumba (31), were arrested with 241 cannabis-laced biscuits.

Both work with private construction firms HSS Engineering Co. Ltd and JIC Co. Ltd. Police also recovered baking equipment used in producing the biscuits, with suspects revealing their clientele included engineers, university students, and young people in surrounding communities.

On September 7 in Mwanza, six suspects were arrested with 452 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a Scania truck (registration T 384 BWN with trailer T 602 ANQ) belonging to local franchise of a multinational beverage company. Two bajajis used to offload the drugs were also seized.

Further coordinated operations across Mara, Tabora, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, Arusha, Tanga, Ruvuma and Morogoro resulted in the seizure of 25,919.8 kilogrammes of cannabis, khat and heroin, in addition to the destruction of 64 acres of cannabis farms.

The DCEA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling drug networks, intercepting new trafficking methods, and expanding awareness campaigns on the dangers of substance abuse.

“The goal is to reflect the nation’s determination to protect public safety, safeguard health, uphold human dignity and strengthen our economy, ultimately building a resilient society for the wellbeing of our nation,” Mr Lyimo said