11 held over alleged theft of TTCL infrastructure in Dar es Salaam

By The Respondents Reporter

Police are holding 11 people, including Timothy Eshemo, popularly known as “Jack”, over the alleged theft of telecommunications infrastructure belonging to the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL).

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander SACP Jumanne Muliro said on Thursday that the suspects were arrested during investigations conducted between June and August 2026 in collaboration with TTCL’s security unit.

According to the commander, the suspects are accused of involvement in different stages of the alleged theft, including planning the crimes, stealing telecommunications equipment and purchasing the materials for resale.

Among the infrastructure allegedly stolen are copper cables, which police say have contributed to disruptions to communication services at some government and private institutions.

Police said some of the suspects allegedly posed as TTCL employees to gain access to the corporation’s infrastructure before removing the copper cables.

“The crimes occurred in Kinondoni, Upanga and Mikocheni, where the suspects were allegedly led by Timothy Eshemo, popularly known as ‘Jack’,” SACP Muliro said.

He said police were pursuing the wider network behind the alleged theft and would take legal action against those found to have participated in the offences.

“The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police condemn these acts and will deal with everyone involved in planning and stealing the infrastructure,” he said.

The investigation is also expected to establish how the allegedly stolen cables were disposed of and whether other individuals or businesses were involved in purchasing the materials.

The case highlights the wider impact of infrastructure theft, particularly where stolen telecommunications equipment leads to service interruptions and additional costs for repairs and replacement.

Police have urged members of the public to report suspicious activities involving telecommunications infrastructure as investigations continue.

The authorities said the security situation in Dar es Salaam remains stable.