Tanzania’s anti-drug watchdog on Thursday arrested a 39-year-old Nigerian drug trafficker and seized 270 kilograms of heroin.
James Kaji, the Acting Commissioner General for the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), identified the Nigerian as Kanayo David Chukwu, adding that the Nigerian was arrested with his two Tanzanian accomplices. Kaji also identified the two Tanzanian accomplices as Alistair Amon Mbele, 38, a university lecturer and Isso Lupembe, 49, a professional engineer.
Addressing a news conference earlier in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Kaji said the suspects have been running a drug syndicate for quite a long time.
He said the DCEA succeeded to make arrests after it had collaborated with anti-drugs agencies from other countries. He said the heroin were hidden in a house at Mbezi Kibanda cha Mkaa, a suburb on the outskirts of the business capital.
“DCEA security busted the house after they were tipped off by security agencies in the country,” said Kaji. “They thought there was security lax because of the COVID-19 pandemic and they used dhows to bring in the drugs,” he said.
