| Police seize Sh25bn heroin haul | Send to a friend |
| Thursday, 11 March 2010 10:25 |
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Police in Tanga Region have impounded 95 kilogrammes of heroin with an estimated street value of over Sh25 billion and arrested six suspects, including an Iranian national. The haul, which was seized on Monday in Handeni District, is one of the largest drug hauls intercepted in the country.Tanzania is increasingly being used as a narcotics conduit to Asia, Europe and the Americas, and dozens of its nationals have been arrested both in the country and outside in recent years over drug trafficking. The arrest of the Iranian national and his five accomplices is seen as a crucial breakthrough by the anti-narcotics police who have struggled to fight drug cartels and curtail their lucrative business since the government declared war on drug dealers. The Iranian entered the country on March 1 through the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam before linking up with his Tanzanian accomplices.Details emerging yesterday suggested that the heroin may have been transported into the country either by sea or road, but police declined to state its origin or final destination. The head of the police anti-narcotic unit, Mr Godfrey Nzowa, reportedly led the operation that resulted in the seizure of the haul and arrest of the six suspects. The operation pointed to an elaborate and carefully executed plan to nail the suspects, although Mr Nzowa said police “bumped” into the six during a routine patrol. He could not state the value of the seized heroin saying investigations were incomplete, adding that police had stepped up the war on drug trafficking, and were working closely with their counterparts in neighbouring countries to check the illegal trade. However, Mr Nzowa was later quoted telling the BBC that 0.1 gram of heroin fetched up to Sh30,000 in Dar es Salaam where “it is becoming increasingly scarce”.Going by these figures, a gram of the drug should cost Sh270,000, meaning that the seized haul had a street value of about Sh25.6 billion. According to estimates of the United Nations Drugs Agency, heroin would sell for $125 a gram in European markets and $300 for the same quantity in the US, depending on its purity. This, therefore, means the impounded drug could fetch between $11.9 million (Sh15.4 billion) and $285 million (Sh37.1 billion). The acting Tanga regional police commander, Mr Athumani Boge, told reporters that the suspects were intercepted and arrested at Kabuku in Handeni District.He said three of the suspects were Tanga residents, while two lived in Dar es Salaam. Police also seized two cars – a Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota RAV4 – which were being used to ferry the record drug haul.The suspects were being held in Tanga yesterday, and were expected to be arraigned as soon as investigations were complete. Last month, a British citizen of Tanzanian origin, Mr Khalid Salim Maunga, 35, was charged at the Ilala District Court with drug trafficking.Mr Maunga was allegedly arrested at Julius Nyerere International Airport with 69 pallets of heroin and 610 grams of bhang, all worth Sh20 million. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
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