Zanzibar confiscates drug traffickers’ assets valued at Sh15.3 billion

Zanzibar confiscates drug traffickers’ assets valued at Sh15.3 billion

Unguja. The Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (ZDCE) has announced the confiscation of drug trafficking suspects’ assets valued at Sh15.3 billion, declaring them government property.

The decision follows a special operation conducted in January this year which resulted in the seizure of over 100 kilograms of Methamphetamine, hashish and marijuana.

Speaking here on Monday, April 22, 2024, the ZDCE Commissioner General Colonel Burhani Zuberi Nassoro said the drugs were smuggled into the country by Salehe Khamis Basleman and Gawar Bachi Fakir, both residents of Chukwani in Mjini Magharibi Region.

The suspects are alleged to be involved in illegal drug trafficking across Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. However, anyone dissatisfied with this declaration can appeal to the court within 30 days from today.

“Through this trade, they have amassed a significant amount of money, which they launder by purchasing luxury cars, houses, land, and establishing dummy businesses,” he said.

He clarified that he is confiscating these assets under the authority granted to him by section 73(1) of the Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority Act No. 8 of 2021, after considering the requirements of section 71 of the same Act.

Before reaching this decision, the authority issued various announcements in the government gazette and in the areas of the suspects, Salehe and his wife Gawar, calling for them to declare their income or the manner in which they acquired their assets. However, they failed to comply within the 30 days stipulated by law.

The assets include six cars valued at Sh399 million, three maritime transport vessels, and one engine valued at Sh29.9 million, as well as eight residential and business plots valued at Sh6.8 billion.

Additionally, there are three luxury villas worth Sh6.3 billion and eight residential and commercial properties worth Sh1.7 billion. All assets are located in various areas of Unguja Island.

He emphasized that this amount of money is significant enough to fund approximately two ministries in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

“We are raising awareness so that the people of Zanzibar understand that individuals are accumulating wealth through the illegal sale of drugs, harming our youth.

While some residents of Unguja town applaud the actions taken by the authority, they have called for the arrest of those involved to dismantle the network.

“If these people are not apprehended, they can continue their operations through other means. I believe they cannot act alone; there are collaborators,” said Ayoub Hamad.

Another resident, Raya Idd, highlighted, “We witness how drug addicts struggle on the streets to obtain money for drugs, resorting to theft, robbery, or odd jobs. Therefore, additional strategies are necessary.”

Without disclosing names or institutions, Colonel Burhan mentioned that some government officials collaborate with these criminals, some of whom have fled the country upon observing the intensifying operation, fearing identification and arrest.

Original Media Source

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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’

Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’

Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that  “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.

Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.

The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.

Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization.  WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.

At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously –  including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.

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Source: allafrica.com

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