Media Wire Express Correspondent
The government intensified efforts to control imports and use of narcotic drugs, where a total of 1,965,340.52 kilogrammes was seized between January and December 2023.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Policy, Parliament and Coordination, Ms Jenista Mhagama revealed this yesterday, saying the increasing amount of nabbed illicit drugs was a record in 11 years.
She was giving an update of the drug control and enforcement efforts taken by the government in the period of January and December 2023.
“As you are aware, the government is applying a number of interventions in dealing with drug control and use in the country. The objective is to bring to an end the trend and have a society free from the use of illicit drugs,” said minister Mhagama.
She said the government through the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) contained 1,965,340.52 kilogrammes nabbed in various areas in the country last year.
Minister Mhagama said a total of 10,522 suspects were arrested over the illicit drugs, of which 9,701 are men and the remaining 821 are women.
Moreover, she said more than 2,924 acres of marijuana (bhang) farms were destroyed in various areas in the country during the period.
“The nabbed stock has been a record in a year and this attributes to the government efforts to control drugs,” she said.
According to the minister, the highest record was posted 11 years ago, where a total of 660,465 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs was impounded by the authority. She also said that the government banned importation of 157,738.55 kilogrammes of chemicals, which could be used to produce illicit drugs.
The minister said that to ensure the public is aware of the danger posed by the use of illicit drugs, the government has widened its awareness training programme among students in primary, secondary and higher learning institutions.
DCEA has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prevention Combating Corruption Bureaus (PCCB) to engage their clubs established in various schools to raise awareness against illicit drug use.
She said research has shown that the use of illicit drugs starts with youth at the age between ten (10) and 12 years, thus the government has decided to focus its efforts in schools.
Moreover, on the treatment, the government has increased the number of Medically Assisted Therapy Clinics and sober houses to assist the addicts. She said as of December 2023, there were 16 rehabilitation centres in the country.
However, Minister Mhagama said the government is in the final stages on construction of a major rehabilitation centre in Dodoma, which apart from treatment services will also offer special life skills for the addicts upon recovery.
She said a good number of addicts have enrolled with the clinics, whereas by December last year, 2,219 drug addicts registered, making a total number of people on methadone dose to reach 15,915.
She expressed the government’s commitment to work closely with other countries in fighting illicit drug trafficking and capacity building on how best to control the situation.
Minister Mhagama also said the government is committed to empower DCEA so that the organ is able to effectively undertake its duties.
