Tanzanian President John Magufuli on
Monday told security forces in the country
to crack down on the drug trade and said
no one should be spared, even if the are
top politicians, their relatives or even his
wife.
His new drive against drugs follows
growing concerns tat East Africa is being
used by traffickers. While most Europe-
bound Afghan heroin still goes through
Iran and the Balkans, a spate of record-size
hauls near Kenya and Tanzania has raised
fears East Africa is seen as an easier route
because of porous borders and weak
maritime surveillance.
“In this war against
narcotics, no one is
too prominent to be
arrested even if they
are politicians,
security officers,
cabinet ministers or
the child of a
prominent person,”
Magufuli told the
heads of the defence
and security forces at
the presidential State
House.
“Even if my wife,
Janeth, is involved,
she should be
arrested.” he added
Tanzanians have long complained that top
officials or those with government
connections have often been spared
prosecution for corruption and other
crimes.
Magufuli has sought to show even those in
high office will be held accountable for
criminal activity or poor performance.
While praising the police chief for
suspending 12 junior officers last week on
suspicion of drugs trafficking, he however
said the campaign must target the
financiers and dealers, citing the case of
one unnamed drugs trader whose case was
taking too long to go through the courts.
“I know some leaders
tried to defend him.
But we must now start
to jail these big drug
dealers, instead of just
dealing with the little
people,” the president
said.
Source: Citizen Digital
Alabatvnews.
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