By our Correspondences
Mtwara, Tanzania — Tanzania’s anti-narcotics authority has destroyed more than 500 kilograms of heroin seized from a dhow carrying seven Iranian nationals in the Indian Ocean, in one of the country’s latest efforts to curb trafficking along the East African coast.
The Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) said 504.36 kilograms of heroin were incinerated at the Dangote Cement cement plant in southern Tanzania’s Mtwara region following an order issued by the High Court registry in Mtwara after legal procedures against the suspects were completed.
According to the authority, the drugs were intercepted aboard the dhow Al Arab within Tanzania’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Indian Ocean.
The seizure involved seven Iranian nationals, although officials did not immediately disclose further details about the court proceedings or sentencing outcomes.
The destruction was carried out under Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Act, which allows narcotics exhibits to be disposed of once legal requirements are fulfilled or, in some cases, while proceedings are ongoing with court approval.
Tanzania lies along a major maritime trafficking route used by international drug syndicates moving heroin from Southwest Asia toward African and European markets.
Authorities in the region have in recent years increased surveillance along the Indian Ocean coastline amid concerns over the growing use of East Africa as a transit corridor.
The DCEA said the government was also intensifying efforts to expand treatment and rehabilitation services for people struggling with drug addiction, particularly in Tanzania’s southern regions.
The authority said it would continue working with stakeholders to improve access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services and establish additional “sober houses” aimed at supporting rehabilitation and reintegration of recovering drug users into society.
Officials further pledged continued cooperation with security agencies, institutions and communities to combat narcotics trafficking, trade and consumption, while expanding public awareness campaigns on the dangers of illicit drugs.
