Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has exposed a disturbing and unprecedented tactic by drug traffickers who are now using human corpses to smuggle narcotics, highlighting the extreme measures criminals adopt to evade law enforcement.
DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo revealed this grim development during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam, where he detailed the outcomes of intensified operations conducted between May and July 2025.
The authority, working closely with other government agencies, seized a total of 37,197.142 kilograms of various illegal drugs, signaling Tanzania’s expanding role as both a target and transit hub in the regional and global narcotics trade.
Among the seized substances were 11,031.42 kilograms of Mitragyna Speciosa (Kratom), 24,873.56 kilograms of cannabis (bangi), 1,274.47 kilograms of khat (mirungi), 13.42 kilograms of skunk, 2.21 kilograms of heroin, 1.42 grams of methamphetamine, 1.92 kilograms of ketamine, 1,000 tablets of Rohypnol, and 6 litres of hydrochloric acid.
The largest single seizure of Kratom was intercepted at the Temeke Inland Container Depot in Dar es Salaam.
The consignment, which originated from Sri Lanka, was concealed in sacks falsely labeled as fertilizer.
Kratom is a psychoactive plant known to contain chemicals that can severely impair the nervous system, causing addiction and even sudden death.
Its large-scale presence in Tanzania is a sign of evolving drug trafficking routes from Asia into East Africa.
In a separate bust, DCEA dismantled a clandestine factory in the Sinza area of Dar es Salaam that produced marijuana-infused biscuits.
"The edibles were reportedly distributed to multiple regions, including Mwanza, Lindi, and Mtwara. Two suspects linked to this illegal operation were arrested", he said.
The authority also destroyed 1,045.5 acres of cannabis farms across several regions — including Ruvuma, Mbeya, Mara, Kagera, Dodoma, Tabora, Morogoro, and Arusha — while seizing an additional 26,191.45 kilograms of harvested cannabis.
The extensive raids highlight ongoing challenges in curbing drug cultivation, particularly in remote rural areas where alternative economic opportunities remain limited.
DCEA also thwarted an attempt to smuggle 26 kilograms of heroin from Mozambique into Tanzania, underscoring the porous nature of cross-border trafficking routes in the region.
In total, 64 individuals were arrested in connection with various drug trafficking offenses during the period.
The crackdown further revealed the involvement of foreign nationals.
Two Chinese citizens, Chein Bai and Qixian Xin, were arrested in Dar es Salaam while in possession of methamphetamine, ketamine, and 1,000 Rohypnol tablets.
Their arrest highlights the increasingly international composition of drug trafficking networks operating within Tanzania.
Commissioner General Lyimo warned that traffickers are now adapting their methods by using everyday transport services, including motorbike taxis (bodaboda), three-wheeled vehicles (bajaj), taxis, and parcel delivery networks to conceal and move illicit substances discreetly.
"The decentralized distribution model complicates enforcement efforts and necessitates heightened vigilance among the public," he explained.
He urged citizens to exercise caution when receiving or sending packages from unknown sources and to promptly report suspicious activities to authorities.
The government remains committed to taking strong legal action against anyone found complicit in the illegal drug trade.
The revelation of human corpses used as drug containers marks a disturbing escalation in smuggling tactics and poses profound ethical and security challenges.
This development calls for enhanced collaboration among Tanzanian authorities, regional partners, and international agencies to strengthen border controls, intelligence sharing, and public awareness campaigns.
As Tanzania continues to confront these evolving threats, the fight against narcotics remains critical not only for national security but also for protecting public health and social stability.
The DCEA’s efforts demonstrate a resolute commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and safeguarding the wellbeing of Tanzanian communities.