Deported child finally finds new home

A Tanzanian child, who was recently deported from China after her parents were arrested in China for allegedly trafficking drugs, will be raised by her grandparents.

The deputy commissioner of Community Development, Mr Daniel Masanzu said the 2.9 years child will be raised by Mr Hashim Mbarouk and Zuhura Nyangassa, who are her mother’s parents.

The couple, Mr Baraka Malali and Ms Ashura Mussa were arrested on January 19, this year in China after being found in possession with prohibited drugs.

Mr Masanzu told journalists on Monday that following a discussion between relatives of the detained couple, it was decided that the child will be raised by parents of her mother.

“All relatives agreed on the decision. The child will now be raised by Mr Mbarouk’s family, but this does not mean that he will take all responsibility as parents of the child’s father must also contribute in raising her,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the two families, Mr Wile Stanford, the brother of troubled Malali thanked the governments of Tanzania and China for deporting the child safely, adding that they would raise the child in collaboration.

The Tanzania Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) was quoted last week confirming the couple were arrested in January, possessing 127 pellets of heroine.

They were arrested in Zhejiang when attempting to smuggle heroine into China from Tanzania whereby a woman allegedly ingested 80 pellets while her husband had 47 pellets.

Following their arrest, the Chinese government ordered the deportation of their child, as the dual are now facing criminal charges of which will led to execution.

Chinese drug laws state that anyone caught smuggling no less than 1 kilogram of heroin or methyl Benzedrine may face the death penalty.