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Tanzania to establish anti-drugs authority

Xinhua, February 8, 2017 Adjust font size:

Tanzania is finalizing the process of forming an authority for controlling narcotics, a senior official said Tuesday.

Jenista Mhagama, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of policy, parliamentary affairs, labor, employment, youth and the disabled affairs, described the drugs as a real problem that demands vigorous curbing measures.

"All the regulations and structure of the authority are ready. We are only waiting for the appointment of the Commissioner to lead the authority," the minister told the National Assembly in the capital Dodoma.

According to the minister, the Tanzanian government has allocated 1,1 million U.S. dollars for operations of the anti-drugs unit.

Last Thursday, the Tanzanian government launched the ongoing anti-drugs crackdown, which has seen the arrest of 112 suspected drugs abusers and dealers.

Tanzania ranked third behind Mexico and the United States in the quantities of impounded narcotics over the years.

According to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) in 2015, Tanzania is a significant transit country for illicit drugs, including cocaine and heroin, with a growing domestic user population. Tanzanian drug trafficking organizations and courier networks operate globally with cells throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas. Endit