Mbeya Regional Police arrested 871 suspects linked to various criminal offences in May 2026, reflecting intensified efforts to strengthen security and protect lives and property across the region.
The arrests were made through coordinated patrols, intelligence-led operations and security sweeps conducted in collaboration with residents and other stakeholders.
Police said the suspects were linked to offences including murder, assault, rape, illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking and theft.
Addressing the media, police said investigations into many of the cases have been completed and suspects have been taken to court, with several already convicted and sentenced.
Among those arrested were Baraka Mwakatobe, 31, and Said Baraka, 39, both residents of Dodoma, who are accused of transporting banned cosmetic products containing harmful substances prohibited in Tanzania.
The suspects were intercepted on May 28 at the Chimala Police checkpoint in Mbarali District while travelling in a Canter truck registered as T997 ERG.
Police recovered 403 boxes of various cosmetic products believed to contain toxic ingredients and allegedly destined for Dodoma after being transported from Tunduma in Songwe Region.
Authorities also recovered imported textiles that had allegedly entered the country without the payment of customs duties. Investigations are continuing ahead of legal proceedings.
In a separate operation, police arrested Shaban Safari, 48, a resident of Kyela District, on suspicion of possessing narcotic drugs.
He was apprehended on June 2 in Kyela Kati Ward, where officers recovered 27 sachets of heroin and two grams of cannabis.
Police said the arrest forms part of broader efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse in the region. During May alone, 20 suspects were arrested in connection with 12.24 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Two other suspects were found with 30 litres of illicit alcohol commonly known as gongo, while two alleged poachers were arrested in possession of a homemade firearm and seven rounds of ammunition.
The regional police also reported significant progress in the prosecution of criminal cases. Of the 224 cases filed in court during May, 122 resulted in convictions and prison sentences, while 73 remain under judicial review.
One of the most prominent cases concluded this week involved Barnaba Daud Mtweve, 56, of Chunya District, who was sentenced to death by the High Court of Tanzania, Mbeya Zone, after being convicted of murdering two people and attempting to kill a child.
The court heard that on March 31, 2024, Mtweve attacked his former partner, Herriety Lupembe, a primary school teacher, and Form Two student Ivone Tatizo, causing their deaths.
He was also found guilty of attempting to kill six-year-old Harris Barnaba Mtweve, who survived the attack.
Delivering the judgment on June 3, Judge Joachim Charles Tiganga ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
State prosecutors argued that a severe sentence was necessary to deter violent crimes and protect vulnerable members of society, particularly children.
Beyond crime prevention, police said they have continued to strengthen road safety enforcement. During May, nine drivers had their licences suspended for causing accidents or committing dangerous traffic offences, including speeding and unsafe overtaking.
Mbeya Regional Police have urged members of the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by reporting criminal activities and providing evidence in court when required.
The force said public participation remains critical in sustaining recent gains in crime prevention and ensuring safer communities across the region.
