The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) has intercepted 20 bags containing unregistered medicines and medical devices worth an estimated Sh310 million at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), raising fresh concerns over attempts to smuggle unauthorised medical products into the country.
The consignment, which originated from India, was intercepted after TMDA inspectors, working with police and customs officials, raised concerns over the shipment and subjected it to further checks.
The haul included medicines used to treat cancer, epilepsy, high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as Ozempic (semaglutide), a medicine also used in weight-management treatment.
Some of the products were intended for dental treatment, according to TMDA.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, September 9, TMDA Director General Dr Adam Fimbo said the seizure was particularly concerning because none of the medicines had been registered or authorised for use in Tanzania.
“This entire consignment is worth approximately Sh310 million,” Dr Fimbo said.
He said the value of some individual products was substantial, citing one cancer medicine whose estimated market value was about Sh7 million.
But beyond their monetary value, Dr Fimbo said the key concern was the potential danger posed by medicines whose quality, safety and effectiveness had not been assessed by the regulator.
“The biggest problem is that these medicines are not registered. We do not know their quality, safety or effectiveness,” he said.
The TMDA chief warned that the use of unverified medicines could result in treatment failure, adverse reactions, drug resistance, disability and, in extreme cases, death.
The risk, he said, was particularly serious for patients suffering from conditions such as cancer, where ineffective treatment can allow the disease to progress while patients believe they are receiving appropriate medication.
Dr Fimbo said the consignment came under scrutiny after the bags arrived at JNIA but were not collected by the people expected to receive them.
The abandoned luggage raised suspicion, prompting authorities to open one of the bags for inspection.
Officials found a large quantity of medicines inside, leading to the inspection of the remaining bags and the discovery of the wider consignment.
Information contained on the luggage tags has helped authorities identify people linked to the shipment, Dr Fimbo said.
Police are now pursuing those connected to the consignment as investigations continue into its origin, manufacturers and the route through which the products entered Tanzania.
Dr Fimbo also announced the seizure of a separate consignment of injectable medicines valued at about Sh50 million.
The products included lignocaine, bupivacaine, adrenaline and vitamins.
TMDA also intercepted injectable products marketed for weight management, including tirzepatide and Ozempic.
The latest seizures, Dr Fimbo said, demonstrate the importance of the inspection systems deployed at Tanzania's entry points.
TMDA inspectors operate around the clock at JNIA in collaboration with police and customs officers, while similar controls have been established at ports, border crossings and cargo storage facilities.
Importers of medicines and medical devices are required to obtain TMDA approval before bringing the products into the country, with permits verified when consignments arrive.
Despite the seizures, Dr Fimbo said the proportion of counterfeit and substandard medicines in Tanzania remained below one per cent, but stressed that the authority would continue strengthening surveillance to prevent unsafe products from reaching patients.
The confiscated medicines will be handled in accordance with the law, including possible destruction, while individuals found responsible will face legal action.
“The fight is ongoing. Those involved in this trade are looking for different ways to bring medicines into the country, but TMDA remains vigilant and is working day and night,” Dr Fimbo said.