By The Respondents Reporter
Police in Dodoma have arrested 418 suspects in a month-long crackdown targeting a range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, burglary, livestock theft, environmental offences and the destruction of public infrastructure.
The arrests were made between August 12 and September 7, 2026, during police operations conducted in different parts of Dodoma Region, according to a statement issued by the regional police command on Monday.
Of the 418 suspects, 118 were arrested while in possession of various items believed to be connected to criminal activities.
The items seized included 46 kilogrammes and 805 grammes of khat (mirungi), three kilogrammes of cannabis, 39 drums of diesel, 24 boxes of ceramic tiles, 15 containers of rice and 127 chickens.
Police also recovered five litres of illicit alcohol, 30 pieces of pangolin scales, four gas cookers, five electric fans, an aluminium-processing machine and four car batteries valued at Sh1.8 million.
Other recovered property included two 5,000-litre water tanks, 26 basic mobile phones, five Hisense television sets, a Dell laptop, two computers, two smartphones, two radios, a power bank, a blender, a refrigerator, two hair clippers and two wristwatches.
Police also seized 45 motorcycles—31 Haujoe, 10 Boxer, one Toyo and three Sinoray.The police command said 16 suspects were in custody over the alleged destruction of infrastructure along Dodoma's Ring Road.
Seven others were being held over environmental offences, while one suspect was facing a rape charge.
Police were also holding four suspects in connection with murder cases, four over alleged witchcraft-related offences, two over alleged violence against children and two over livestock theft.
A further 41 suspects were arrested over burglary-related offences, while 211 were being held in connection with other offences.
The crackdown also extended to road safety, with the Traffic Police Unit conducting public education and enforcement campaigns at schools, motorcycle taxi stands and bus terminals.
The exercise resulted in 15,018 traffic offences being detected, according to police.
Three drivers had their licences suspended for three months, while another had his licence suspended for three years following offences that included reckless driving resulting in an accident, carrying excess passengers and speeding.
Ten drivers were taken to court. Meanwhile, police reported 12 convictions in cases that had been concluded in court, with offenders receiving various prison sentences.
One person convicted of rape and sodomy was sentenced to life imprisonment, while two people convicted of rape were each sentenced to 30 years in prison.
An offender convicted of livestock theft was sentenced to five years, while another convicted of causing bodily harm was also sentenced to five years.
A driver convicted of reckless driving was sentenced to two years in prison, while six other convicts received various sentences.
Dodoma Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gallus Hyera, urged residents to report suspected criminal activities and offenders to the authorities without delay.
He also called on the public to safeguard peace and security and refrain from engaging in activities that violate the law.