In a major move to safeguard Tanzanian communities, the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has dismantled extensive drug operations, seizing nearly 3,800 kilograms of illegal substances, destroying 18 acres of cannabis farms, and nationalizing assets linked to criminal networks worth more than TZS 3.3 billion.
The operations, which led to the arrest of 84 suspects, are being hailed as a significant step in shielding families from the devastating effects of drugs.
DCEA Commissioner Aretas James Lyimo told journalists that the nationalization of properties belonging to Saleh Khamis Basternan and Gaspar Beschi Faki underscores the government’s determination to strip criminals of their illegal gains.
Residential homes, plots of land, and vehicles acquired through drug trafficking have now been taken over by the state, sending a strong message that crime ultimately leads to loss.
“These measures are not only about punishing offenders,” said Commissioner Lyimo. “They are about protecting our communities and educating the public that involvement in drugs brings harm, not wealth. By targeting the financial power of criminals, we reduce their ability to continue endangering our society.”he added
Recent operations revealed the scale of drug trafficking threatening urban and rural areas alike. In Dar es Salaam, suspects were caught with hundreds of MDMA and Rohypnol tablets, while in Mbezi Maramba Mawili, seven people were intercepted transporting 80 kilograms of skunk concealed in solar panel tanks.
At the Kasesya border in Rukwa, authorities seized 244.5 kilograms of skunk hidden in machinery and electronic devices being brought from Malawi.
Across the country, DCEA’s coordinated efforts also led to the destruction of illegal cannabis plantations, the confiscation of vehicles and motorcycles used in trafficking, and the disruption of networks that threaten young people and vulnerable families.
Commissioner Lyimo called on Tanzanians to continue working with law enforcement by reporting drug-related activities.
“Our fight is not complete without public support,” he said. “Together, we can protect our communities, keep young people away from drugs, and make sure criminal networks have no place to operate in our country.”he added