By Business Insider Reporter, Dodoma
Tanzania registered significant gains in its fight against narcotics in 2024, with the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) recording historic drug seizures and arresting a notorious cocaine kingpin in one of its most high-profile anti-narcotics operations to date.
According to the DCEA’s State of Narcotics in Tanzania 2024 report, a total of 2,327 tonnes of illicit drugs were intercepted during the year—an increase of 20 percent compared to 2023.
The seizures included: 1.2 tonnes of fentanyl, 1,729.2 kg of methamphetamine, 433.16 kg of heroin and only 0.85 kg of cocaine.
While overall seizures rose, the authorities noted a sharp decline in the amount of cocaine confiscated, attributing the drop to both the dismantling of a major smuggling network and logistical barriers tied to cocaine’s South American origin.
“There are two reasons associated with the decrease in cocaine cases. First was the arrest of a key kingpin who had long orchestrated the cocaine trade in Tanzania. Second is the geographic challenge of transporting cocaine from South America,” said Dr Peter Mfisi, DCEA’s Commissioner for Treatment and Prevention.
Marijuana still the most abused drug
Despite the developments in tackling harder narcotics, marijuana continued to dominate the local drug landscape. The report shows that 2,303 tonnes of cannabis were seized in 2024, maintaining its position as the most widely abused and trafficked illicit drug in the country.
Heroin drop
On the regional front, the decline in heroin trafficking into Tanzania was partly attributed to the ban on opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, the world’s largest source of heroin.
“The global crackdown on poppy farming is showing ripple effects here. We are seeing reduced inflows of heroin into the region,” Dr Mfisi added.
The report also highlighted the rising threat of synthetic narcotics, especially Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) such as methamphetamine and ecstasy. These drugs, according to DCEA, are gaining popularity among urban youth due to their low price, ease of access, and potent effects on mood and perception.
Emergence of new psychoactive substances
According to DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo, Tanzania – like many countries – is grappling with the growing presence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). The global drugs report shows that while the number of newly identified substances declined slightly from 618 in 2021 to 566 in 2022, 44 types were completely new discoveries.
Between 2020 and 2022, 52 countries reported impounding these substances, up from 43 countries between 2010 and 2012, suggesting a widening global footprint.
Locally, Lyimo said, cocktail drugs – a mix of various narcotics and pharmaceuticals – have emerged as a new challenge. Known on the streets as ‘kush’ and ‘gutter water’, these mixtures include heroin, marijuana, ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, codeine, porphine, valium, and alcohol.
“These cocktails are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Users often don’t even know what they’re consuming,” Commissioner Lyimo warned.
Regional implications, future strategy
The DCEA’s crackdown forms part of a broader regional concern. East Africa has increasingly become both a transit point and a growing consumer market for narcotics, partly due to weak border controls, rising urbanisation, and youth unemployment.
Analysts say Tanzania’s record performance in 2024 positions it as a regional leader in drug enforcement, but warn that newer synthetic and designer drugs pose a moving target for regulators and law enforcement.
DCEA officials concluded by calling for more public education, rehabilitation services, and regional intelligence-sharing mechanisms to sustain the fight.
“We’re not just seizing drugs. We’re saving lives, safeguarding the economy, and protecting the country’s future,” Lyimo said. With drug syndicates constantly evolving their tactics, Tanzania’s war on narcotics is far from over – but 2024 marked a crucial turning point in the country’s long-standing campaign against the drug menace.
