BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER
28th August 2013
She was arrested in Dubai with 3 kgs of cocaine Govt announces more measures to fight menace
She explains that she had just finished a three month holiday trip in Sao Paolo, Brazil, a trip organised by her husband, a Tanzanian who however suspiciously did not join his wife on the vacation. On her return, the woman alleges:
"Her husband's friend asked her to deliver the bags to her husband in Tanzania," a Dubai official in anti-narcotics said and went on to point out that her suspicious behaviour led to her arrest.
Reports have it that she ‘appeared confused and showed signs of fear.’ She remains in custody ahead of a court trial.
In that same incident, an Asian woman was also apprehended with drugs only in her case the amount was much smaller, only a little over half a kilogram compared to the 2.960kg that the Tanzania.
The Asian woman had 528 grams of cocaine concealed in her underwear who travelling from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Islamabad in Pakistan. She too denied knowledge of the contents of the bag claiming ‘her friend in Pakistan had asked her to bring the stuff in return for money.’
Tanzanian police have however not confirmed the arrest and when contacted for Comment, the head of anti-narcotics unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police Godfrey Nzowa, told The Guardian that he had noinformation of the arrest.
This development comes as the government tightens security at the Julius International Airport and working on a new approach to handling impounded drugs to have them destroyed when seized and the government chief chemist’s report to serve for exhibit.
Between 2000 and 2012 the government has seized at least 2,722.428 tons of marijuana, 73,680.700tons of qat/miraa, 873.708kgs of heroin and 373.5724kgs of cocaine.
Also from between 2008 and 2013, at least 247 Tanzanians have been arrested in different countries in connection with drug smuggling, while 31 foreigners are currently remanded at Keko and Ukonga maximum security prisons for drug related charges.
In fact only recently were six Airport employees including four security officers under the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) and one police officer under the Ministry of home affairs were dismissed for their part in trafficking cases.
The four security officers are Yusuph Daniel Issa, Jackson Manyonyi, Mohamed Kalungwa and Juliana Thadei, and the ministry police officer is Corporal Ernest.
Meanwhile Dickson Ng’hily, reports fromDodoma that the government is working on a new approach in handling impounded drugs in respect to their being used for evidence in court.
The government now wants the drugs destroyed when seized and the Chief Government Chemist’s report to serve as exhibit.
The plans were made public by the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office for Policy, Co-ordination and Parliamentary, William Lukuvi, yesterday in Dodoma during the ongoing parliamentary session.
“We want to amend the law so that the chief government chemist’s report may serve as exhibit enough in place of the actual drugs which we want to be destroyed so that they may not be resold,” said the Minister.
He said the move would help control resale of previously confiscated drugs which have been ‘mysteriously’ finding their way back into the streets from police custody.
On the same topic, despite the public’s high anticipation for revelation of high profile names of persons involved in drug smuggling, the government has made clear that no names will be released until investigations into the matter are completed.
Minister of State Lukuvi, made the statement when responding to a complimentary question by Rev. Israel Natse, the Karatu legislator (Chadema) who wanted to why the government is not revealing the names as pledged.
“Many have claimed to have the names of these traffickers, including the president, so why are you not making them public?” Natse queried.
“The work of the government is not only naming them but also taking legal action against them…” came the response from Lukuvi who however promised that “…we will reveal the names once the investigations are completed and tangible evidence is on hand.”
Still on the same topic, in her complimentary question, Arusha’s special seats representative, Catherine Magige wanted to know the names of government officials sucked over the 120 kg drugs valued at 8.2 bn/- that were smuggled through Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) and impounded in South Africa.
However, that inquiry too was met by the same response only this time it was framed a little differently.
“…it’s true that there are some government officials who have been sucked over the matter,” Lukuvi first admitted then explained that “…investigation are still underway and we will update the public once they are completed,”
Between 2000 and 2012 the government has seized at least 2,722.428 tons of marijuana, 73,680.700tons of qat/miraa, 873.708kgs of heroin and 373.5724kgs of cocaine,”
Also from between 2008 and 2013, at least 247 Tanzanians have been arrested in different countries in connection with drug smuggling, while 31 foreigners are currently remanded at Keko and Ukonga maximum security prisons for drug related charges.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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