By The Respondents reporter
Tanzanian authorities have seized 66,048 litres of industrial chemicals suspected of being intended for illicit drug production, in what officials describe as one of the country’s largest recent operations targeting precursor chemical diversion networks.
The operation was conducted in Dar es Salaam in April 2026 by the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) in collaboration with the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
According to officials, the seizure included 16,048 litres of Cyclohexanone and 50,000 litres of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), both classified as industrial chemicals with legitimate commercial uses but also vulnerable to diversion for narcotics manufacturing.
Two tanker trucks allegedly used in the transportation of the chemicals were impounded, while two suspects were arrested in connection with the operation.
Authorities said the growing sophistication of international drug trafficking networks has pushed criminal groups toward the use of precursor chemicals to manufacture narcotics in clandestine laboratories rather than relying solely on imported finished drugs.
“These chemicals are legally used in industries, medicine, agriculture, construction, mining, and scientific research. However, criminal networks divert them from legitimate supply chains for the production of illicit drugs,” the DCEA Commissioner General said during a press briefing.
Investigators allege that the Cyclohexanone shipment was imported by Kinglion Investment Company Ltd without the required regulatory approvals.
Meanwhile, the Extra Neutral Alcohol was reportedly being transported using petroleum tanker trucks branded “Danger Petroleum 3YE 1203” under forged transportation permits, in what authorities described as a deliberate attempt to conceal the movement of the chemicals.
The tankers were allegedly transporting the chemicals from Maranile Group Company Limited located in Kibaha, Coast Region.
Authorities identified the arrested suspects as Bakira Abel Zacharia, 44, a Dar es Salaam resident and driver of a tanker carrying approximately 30,000 litres of the chemicals, and Vicent Stephen Rashid, 26, from Mbeya, who was allegedly transporting another 20,000 litres.
Officials said the manner in which the chemicals were imported and transported strongly suggests intent to divert them for illegal narcotics production.
The DCEA noted that Cyclohexanone is internationally monitored because of its association with clandestine drug laboratories. Officials further warned that advances in technology are enabling criminal syndicates to increasingly manufacture synthetic drugs locally using industrial chemicals.
Authorities estimate that the seized Cyclohexanone alone could potentially have produced approximately 11.4 tonnes of illicit narcotics if diverted into illegal production channels.
The agency also raised concern over the use of petrol tankers to transport chemicals intended for human-related industrial use, warning that such practices pose significant risks to public health and safety.
The operation coincided with parallel anti-drug crackdowns in Dodoma, Mtwara, Njombe, Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, and Mwanza regions.
During those operations, authorities seized 5.733 tonnes of cannabis, 1.67 tonnes of khat, 48.23 grams of heroin, and 113.35 grams of cocaine. In addition, 38.5 acres of cannabis farms were destroyed, while four vehicles and 14 motorcycles linked to drug trafficking activities were confiscated.
A total of 84 suspects were arrested, with some cases now proceeding under Tanzania’s economic sabotage laws.
Officials said Tanzania will continue strengthening cooperation with national and international institutions to tighten controls on precursor chemicals and combat the growing threat posed by synthetic narcotics.
The public has also been urged to report suspicious activities related to drug trafficking and illegal chemical diversion as part of broader efforts to protect public health and national security.
