(Dar es Salaam) – A joint operation between the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) and other security agencies has led to the seizure of 673.2 kilograms of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine and heroin, off the coast of Dar es Salaam.
In this operation, eight Pakistani nationals were arrested for allegedly transporting the drugs, which were concealed in a vessel registered in Pakistan. Additionally, some of the drugs were discovered on the shores of the Indian Ocean within Dar es Salaam city.
The captured drugs were part of an ongoing effort to combat the rising drug menace, which is severely affecting the nation’s youth and labor force. According to Aretas Lyimo, the Commissioner General of the DCEA, the drugs were seized in a two-month period between November and December of 2024. The drugs found include 448.3 kilograms aboard the vessel and 224.9 kilograms found along the coastline.
The Pakistani nationals, who have reportedly been involved in drug trafficking for 28 years, claim to have been transporting narcotics from Asia to Africa, using vessels and other transportation methods to reach countries with coastlines.
The vessel involved in the recent seizure, identified by its registration number B.F.D 16548, has a capacity to carry up to eight tons of drugs. Lyimo noted that the interception of this vessel represents a significant blow to the trafficking network, breaking an important link in the drug trade supply chain.
The arrested individuals are expected to be presented in Kisutu Magistrates’ Court in Dar es Salaam today, where they will face legal proceedings for their actions.
| Item | Quantity | Location | Nationality of Suspects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methamphetamine and Heroin | 673.2 kilograms | Indian Ocean, Dar es Salaam | 8 Pakistani nationals |
| Drugs seized on vessel (B.F.D 16548) | 448.3 kilograms | Indian Ocean | 8 Pakistani nationals |
| Drugs found along coastline | 224.9 kilograms | Dar es Salaam shores | None |
