Dar es Salaam. In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has seized over 33 tons of narcotics and arrested 940 suspects in a nationwide operation that took place between July and September 2025.
The announcement was made on Monday by DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo in Dar es Salaam.
The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 4,553 kilograms of cannabis seeds, the destruction of 64 acres of cannabis plantations, and the seizure of firearms, vehicles, and motorcycles.
Among the significant arrests were three suspects, including Lebanese nationals, who were found with 2.4 kilograms of cocaine in the Manzese area of Dar es Salaam. The drugs were reportedly smuggled from Brazil via Kenya and Uganda using body packing.
In other incidents, an American and his Tanzanian wife were arrested at Bahari Beach with 11 bottles of Ketamine and cannabis. Additionally, authorities seized 50 electronic cigarettes containing cannabis from two clubs in Dar es Salaam.
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This large-scale operation highlights Tanzania’s intensified efforts to combat its long-standing struggle with narcotics. The country has been a significant transit point for illicit drugs, particularly heroin from Southwest Asia and cocaine from South America.
Its extensive and often unmonitored coastline has been exploited by traffickers who use small boats to bring drugs ashore from larger vessels.
Beyond being a transit hub, Tanzania also faces a growing domestic substance abuse problem, with cannabis, heroin, and cocaine being the most commonly used illicit drugs.
Recent reports indicate that there are 25,000 to 50,000 people who inject drugs in Tanzania, with the youth being particularly vulnerable to drug abuse.
The Tanzanian government has been actively working to address the drug problem through various measures, including law enforcement operations and public awareness campaigns.
Legal proceedings are currently underway against all the suspects arrested in the recent crackdown.
