Joseph Isangura
Tanzanian authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal mineral trafficking after seizing gold worth Sh1.238 billion in Dar es Salaam, in one of the country’s largest recent anti-smuggling operations, underscoring the government’s determination to protect revenues from the mining sector.
The operation, conducted on July 25, 2026, led to the interception of 4,402.20 grammes of gold in Kiluvya on the outskirts of the commercial capital. According to Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde, the consignment was being transported illegally before authorities moved in and confiscated it.
Following the seizure, the gold was transferred to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), where it was officially secured under mineral identification numbers MC 1066128 and MC 1066129 as investigations and legal proceedings continue.
The interception has already delivered a financial boost to the government, with authorities recovering more than Sh108.3 million through royalties, withholding tax, inspection charges, service levy and the HIV Response Levy.
Royalty payments contributed the largest share at Sh69.35 million, followed by Sh24.77 million collected through withholding tax, highlighting the significant revenue losses the government says it suffers when minerals are traded outside official channels.
Mavunde said preliminary investigations indicate that smugglers are increasingly abandoning traditional trafficking routes and instead using ordinary vehicles to transport minerals across the country in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
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The latest shipment is believed to have originated in Kahama, one of Tanzania’s leading gold-producing districts, before being transported hundreds of kilometres toward Dar es Salaam, where investigators suspect it was destined either for illegal export or sale through unauthorized markets.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those arrested or the number of suspects linked to the operation, saying investigations are ongoing.
The minister warned that individuals found guilty of mineral smuggling will face severe legal consequences, including prosecution, cancellation of mining licences and permanent exclusion from participating in Tanzania’s mining industry.
He stressed that the government will continue strengthening surveillance along transport corridors, increasing intelligence-led operations and tightening oversight across the mineral supply chain to curb illegal trade.
Gold remains Tanzania’s leading mineral export and one of the country’s largest sources of foreign exchange earnings. In recent years, the government has introduced wide-ranging reforms aimed at increasing transparency, boosting mineral traceability and ensuring that a greater share of mining revenues benefits the national economy.
Industry analysts say the latest seizure reflects growing enforcement capacity and sends a strong warning to criminal networks seeking to profit from Tanzania’s mineral wealth outside the legal system.
As authorities expand operations against illegal traders, officials believe protecting the country’s natural resources will not only increase government revenue but also strengthen investor confidence in one of Africa’s fastest-growing mining industries.
