Dar es Salaam — Police here have arrested four suspects in connection with the murder of Bhaozang Ge, a 50-year-old Chinese businessman whose body was found in a drainage trench at his plastic manufacturing factory in the Mabibo area of Ubungo District on May 18, 2026.
The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police announced the arrests following an investigation into the death of Ge, who owned and operated the XIL LI factory, which manufactures plastic products and employs hundreds of workers in the city.
According to a statement issued by Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro on June 10, 2026, all four suspects have confessed to planning and executing the attack.
The suspects are identified as Godson Simon, also known as “Laizer,” 25, from Okolili in Siha, Kilimanjaro Region; Elisha Saitoli, known as “Lukmai,” 24, from Mkonde in Handeni, Tanga Region; Godfrey Laban, known as “Molel,” 30, from Makongo in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam; and Godson Pineli, known as “Isika,” 24, from Kigamboni in Dar es Salaam.
According to police, the suspects planned to attack, rob, and kill Ge. Two of the suspects were apprehended in Namanga, Arusha Region, whilst the other two were arrested in the Mabibo area of Dar es Salaam on separate dates.
The incident occurred on the night of May 16, 2026, at approximately 2:00 a.m., when Ge was allegedly attacked by security personnel at his factory. According to police statements, the suspects confessed that they conspired together, attacked Ge during the night, robbed him, and subsequently fled to different locations.
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Police reported that the suspects stole a bag containing approximately Sh9 million in operational cash from the factory. According to investigators, some of the suspects subsequently used portions of the stolen money to purchase cattle, which they later showed to authorities.
The discovery of Ge’s body came on Saturday morning, May 18, 2026, when factory workers arrived for their regular shift. According to accounts from company employees, workers found the gate unresponsive and, after contacting another Chinese employee inside the premises to open it, discovered that the night security guards were missing.
Workers then began searching the factory compound and discovered Ge’s body in a drainage trench near the grinding machines used in processing raw materials.
Eversophy Michael, the factory’s accountant, told the press that workers had initially become suspicious when they heard Ge’s phone ringing inside his room, only to find him missing.
“When we arrived there, we found blood and the body of our boss lying inside the trench. Everyone was shocked,” Michael said, according to reports.
A security guard at the factory’s main gate reportedly told workers that he had observed two guards dressed in Maasai attire leaving the premises at approximately 3:00 a.m., with one carrying a bag. The guards claimed they were taking someone to hospital because one of them was unwell.
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Ge lived inside the factory compound together with another Chinese employee and the security personnel. The factory, which manufactures raw materials used in producing various plastic products, employed hundreds of workers in Dar es Salaam.
The incident has deeply affected factory employees, who expressed concern about the company’s future and their employment. Felista Deus, a company employee, told the media that workers remained traumatised by the incident.
“Honestly, the news has devastated us. We are struggling even to speak because this is something that has hurt us deeply,” she said.
According to Commander Muliro, the four suspects will be processed through the legal system, with the prosecutor’s office reviewing the investigation findings. The police commander stated that the suspects will be brought before the courts as quickly as possible.
The police have not disclosed specific charges against the suspects at this stage, though the investigation remains ongoing. Commander Muliro emphasised that the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police remain committed to maintaining law and order in the city and appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities in reporting criminal activity.
