VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDR #1788/01 3070944
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030944Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5048
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 3077
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 2434
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0061
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 2870
RUEHLG/AMEMBASSY LILONGWE PRIORITY 5401
RUEHLS/AMEMBASSY LUSAKA PRIORITY 1738
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0362
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0073
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 3295
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 001788 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL, AF/RSA AND AF/E FOR B YODER 
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS, AND NDDS 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
DEA FOR OILS AND OFFICE OF DIVERSION CONTROL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: 2006-2007 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS 
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT 
 
REF: SIPDIS 
 
¶I. SUMMARY. 
Tanzania is located along trafficking routes linking Latin 
America, the Middle East and Asia as well South Africa, 
Europe and, to a lesser extent, the United States. Drugs like 
hashish, cocaine, heroin, Mandrax, and opium have found their 
way into and through Tanzania's porous borders. In addition, 
the domestic production of cannabis is a significant problem, 
with cultivation in many regions of Tanzania. As a result, 
drug abuse, particularly involving cannabis and, to a lesser 
extent, cocaine and heroin, is gradually increasing, 
especially among younger people and in tourist areas. 
Tanzanian institutions have minimal capacity to combat drug 
trafficking; corruption reduces that capacity still further. 
Tanzania is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, and in 
conjunction with United Nations Office of Drug Control, is 
seeking to address objectives of that convention. END SUMMARY. 
 
II. Status of Country 
Until 1989, Tanzania's contact with drugs was largely limited 
to the traditional cultivation of cannabis in some parts of 
the mainland. Since then, economic liberalization has brought 
increased affluence to the expatriate community and some 
urban Tanzanians. This affluence has driven demand for new 
drugs like cocaine, heroin, Mandrax and opium, which have 
found their way through Tanzania's porous borders. 
Domestic production of cannabis is growing. Drug abuse among 
the youth is also increasing, particularly abuse of the more 
affordable substances like cannabis.  Hard drugs, like 
cocaine and heroin, are used in small quantities primarily 
within affluent urban areas.  However, domestic use of these 
drugs appears to be on the rise. The growth of the tourism 
industry, particularly in Zanzibar, has created a larger 
demand for narcotics there. 
 
Tanzania is located along trafficking routes with numerous 
possible illegal points of entry in its eight land borders 
and 600 kilometer coastline.  Heroin originates mainly from 
Iran, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, while cocaine 
originates from South American countries such as Brazil, 
Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. The prime destinations for 
these drugs are Europe, South Africa, China and, to a lesser 
extent, the U.S.  Drugs enter Tanzania by air, sea, roads and 
rail.  Major points of entry include airports in Dar es 
Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro, and seaports at Dar es 
Salaam and Zanzibar, as well as smaller ports like Tanga, 
Mtwara and Bagamoyo. 
 
It is widely believed that traffickers conduct a significant 
amount of narcotics smuggling off-shore in small "dhow" boats 
that never stop in ports.  Anecdotal evidence suggests 
surveillance at the airports has improved, which may have the 
effect of driving trafficking to minor ports and unofficial 
entry points.  During the year, there were reports of "mules" 
or "swallowers" carrying hard drugs into and out of Tanzania. 
 The Anti-Narcotics Unit of the newly created Ministry of 
Public Safety and Security reportedly apprehended 8 
"swallowers" in 2005 and 16 in 2006.  An increasing trend is 
the use of Tanzanian land borders to enter neighboring 
countries, especially Kenya and Malawi, to catch 
international and regional flights. 
 
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2005-2006 
 
Policy Initiatives: 
------------------- 
In 2005, the Drug Control Commission (DCC) finalized a set of 
amendments strengthening existing narcotics legislation and 
submitted the amendments to the Prime Minister's Office.  The 
amendments have been passed to the President's Cabinet for 
approval and are expected to be read in Parliament in 
February 2007.  According to both the DCC and the 
Anti-Narcotics Unit which provided recommendations for the 
amendments, the revised legislation will increase the penalty 
 
for drug traffickers from monetary fines to include both jail 
time.  The amendments also are aimed at increasing the 
mandate of the DCC to include enforcement. 
 
In 2003, the House of Representatives on semi-autonomous 
Zanzibar passed its own Prevention of Illicit Traffic and 
Drugs Act, which put Zanzibar narcotics law and sentencing in 
line with that on the mainland.  Amendments to Zanzibar's 
narcotics legislation are expected to be tabled in the House 
of Representatives only after the Union Parliament passes the 
revised narcotics legislation for the mainland.  While 
Zanzibar does have its own Anti-Narcotics Unit, according to 
Zanzibar's constitution, the Unit operates under the 
authority of the Mainland's Ministry of Public Safety and 
Security. 
 
Accomplishments: 
----------------- 
Tanzania's judiciary made four drug related convictions in 
¶2005.  Two convictions were made in a case involving the 
smuggling of Cannabis Resin in logs shipped from Zambia to 
Tanzania and two convictions were made in a case involving a 
clandestine laboratory identified in 2001 producing Mandrax 
in Dar es Salaam.  Both of these convictions involved jail 
sentences and a monetary penalties. 
 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts: 
------------------------ 
Tanzania has a counternarcotics police force of about 150, 
located in three branches: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and 
Moshi.  However, because of the still limited training and 
operational capabilities of its counternarcotics officers, 
Tanzania's efforts are primarily focused on street pushers 
and individual "mule-carriers" or "swallowers."  To date, 
Tanzania's law enforcement efforts have not yet proved 
successful in limiting narcotics trafficking.  Although the 
number of smugglers apprehended has increased, Tanzanian law 
enforcement has not yet been able to translate small seizures 
into the prosecution of top leaders of organized rings.  Top 
law enforcement officials are starting to advocate for prison 
sentences as opposed to fines to increase the deterrent to 
drug trafficking. 
 
While law enforcement officials have increased their efforts 
to combat narcotics trafficking, still made only sporadic 
seizures were made during 2005.  According to the data from 
the police force's Anti-Narcotics Unit, the following 
seizures of hard drugs were made in 2005: 9,936 grams of 
heroin, 78,750 grams of Cannabis Resin, 1,401 grams of 
Morphine and 361.5 grams of cocaine. 
 
In 2004, Tanzanian law enforcement engaged in widespread 
cannabis eradication efforts, seizing or destroying 964,000 
kilograms of cannabis.  Due to budget constraints in 2005, 
however, the police did not engage in widespread eradication 
efforts, seizing only 150,450 kilograms in small cases within 
urban areas.  In 2005, law enforcement also seized 2,000 
grams of Khat. 
 
Senior Tanzanian counternarcotics officials acknowledge that 
their officers are under-trained and under-resourced to 
monitor Tanzania's eight land borders and long coast line. 
For example, the harbor anti-narcotics unit lacks modern 
patrol boats and relies on modified traditional wooden dhows 
to interdict smugglers.  As a result of the lack of training 
and resources, Tanzanian officers and police staff are not 
able to effectively implement profiling techniques and seize 
large amounts of narcotics.  Narcotics interdiction seizures 
generally result from tip-offs from police informants. 
Moreover, low salaries for law enforcement personnel provide 
impetus to engage in corrupt behavior. 
 
On the positive side, formal cooperation between 
counternarcotics police in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania 
 
is well established, with bi-annual meetings to discuss 
regional narcotics issues.  This cooperation has resulted in 
significant increases in effectiveness in each nation's 
narcotics control efforts.  Tanzania also cooperates formally 
with countries from the Southern Development Community (SADC) 
including Zambia and South Africa.  In 2005, 40 Tanzanian 
officers from Immigration, Customs and Police, received 
counternarcotics training with 40 officers from Zambia. 
 
Corruption: 
----------- 
Neither the government nor senior officials encourage or 
facilitate the production or distribution of illicit drugs; 
however, pervasive corruption continued to be a serious 
problem in the Tanzanian Police Force.  It is widely believed 
that corrupt officials at airports facilitate the 
transshipment of narcotics through Tanzania.  There is no 
specific provision of the anti-corruption laws regarding 
narcotics related cases, and few corruption cases are 
prosecuted.  In June 2006, police prosecuted two police 
officers following the disappearance of approximately 80 
kilograms of cocaine and heroine from police custody.  The 
case is still pending in court.  Many believe that corruption 
in the courts leads to light sentencing of convicted 
narcotics offenders.  Prosecutors complain that many 
"swallowers" arrested at ports of entry will plead "not 
guilty" at first until there has been time to pay off the 
magistrate.  Once confident of the magistrate's help, the 
suspect changes his plea to guilty, and the magistrate 
sentences with fines only and no jail time. 
 
Agreements and Treaties: 
------------------------ 
Tanzania is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Tanzania 
also has signed the Southern African Development Community 
(SADC) Protocol on Drug Control, and the Protocol on 
Combating Drug Trafficking in the East African Region, which 
seeks to strengthen regional counternarcotics cooperation 
within the region, and also with Interpol, UNDCP and the 
International Narcotics Board.  The Southern African 
Development Community, of which Tanzania is a member, has 
approved an counternarcotics action plan with the following 
objectives: 1) acquire information about drug use and 
trafficking in the region; 2) inform policy makers about the 
drug situation; and 3) develop legal frameworks to counteract 
drug use and trafficking. Tanzania also participates in the 
Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation (SARPCO), 
which has led to at least one joint counternarcotics 
operation in Tanzania.  The 1931 U.S.-U.K. Extradition Treaty 
is applicable to Tanzania. 
 
Cultivation and Production: 
--------------------------- 
Traditional cultivation of cannabis takes place in remote 
parts of the country, mainly for domestic use.  It is 
estimated that an acre of land can produce up to USD 1,000 
worth of cannabis crop as opposed to USD 100 for an acre 
producing maize.  The Ministry of Public Safety and Security 
identified the following eight regions as the primary 
production areas for cannabis: Iringa, Tabora, Shinyanga, 
Mara, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, Tanga.  No figures on total 
production exist, but police and government officials report 
that production continues and has spread to different regions 
in response to eradication efforts. 
 
Given the availability of raw materials, and the simplicity 
of the process, it is possible that some hashish is also 
produced domestically.  In 2001, police seized equipment used 
to manufacture Mandrax from clandestine laboratories in Dar 
es Salaam, suggesting efforts to establish domestic 
production.  Most other illegal drugs in Tanzania are 
probably produced elsewhere. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit: 
------------------ 
 
Due to its location and porous borders, seaports and 
airports, Tanzania has become a significant transit country 
for narcotics moving in sub-Saharan Africa.  Traffickers from 
landlocked countries of Southern Africa, including Zambia and 
Malawi, use Tanzania for transit.  Control at the ports, 
especially on Zanzibar, is difficult as sophisticated methods 
of forging documents, and concealment, combine with poor 
controls and untrained and corrupt officials. 
 
According to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, heroin entering 
Tanzania from Iran and Pakistan is being smuggled to the 
U.S., China and Australia in small quantities by traffickers 
from Nigeria, Tanzania (with a significant number of 
traffickers from Zanzibar) and other countries in East 
Africa.  Cocaine enters Tanzania from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, 
Venezuela, and Curacao in transit to South Africa, Europe, 
Australia and North America.  Cannabis Resin, a drug which is 
not known to be consumed in Tanzania, enters Tanzania mainly 
by sea from Pakistan and Afghanistan and is often concealed 
with local goods such as tea and coffee and smuggled to 
Europe, North America and the Seychelles.  The port of Dar es 
Salaam is also a major point of entry for Mandrax from India, 
Nepal and Kenya headed toward South Africa. 
 
Tanzanians continue to be recruited for trafficking. In 2005, 
19 Tanzanians were arrested abroad (mostly in East Africa and 
Pakistan) for smuggling drugs.  Of these 19 cases, 18 were 
smuggling heroin while one was smuggling cocaine.  From 
January to September 2006, 13 Tanzanians were arrested 
abroad, 11 trafficking heroin and two trafficking cocaine. 
 
In Tanzania, police forces apprehended 14 "swallowers," in 
2005, eight of whom had swallowed heroin; six of whom had 
swallowed cocaine.  Recently, Tanzanian smugglers have been 
arrested coming into Tanzania through the land borders with 
Kenya and Malawi, after having arrived at international 
airports from Brazil, Iran, Pakistan and the United Arab 
Emirates.  They are thought to have planned to "unload" the 
drugs so another mule could smuggle them to Europe or the 
U.S.  This trend suggests a growing local trafficking 
organization. 
 
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction: 
------------------------------------ 
Tanzania traditionally was believed to be only a transit 
point for narcotics, but signs point to an increase in 
consumer use, particularly of the lower cost drugs.  Police 
reports confirm that cocaine and heroin is available locally 
and the tourist industry has brought ecstasy (MDMA) to 
Zanzibar.  In 2005, the documented number of drug addicts 
seeking rehabilitation increased from 541 in 2000 to 1,306 in 
2005 on the mainland and on Zanzibar, from 21 in 2000 to 69 
in 2005.  The spill-over from trafficking and increased 
tourism have contributed to this increase in domestic demand. 
 
The Tanzanian government has taken proactive measures to 
reduce demand and increase awareness about drug use and drug 
trafficking.  The Drug Control Commission (DCC), under the 
Prime Minister's Office, manages a small demand reduction 
program.  In 2005, the DCC trained over 200 nurses, 
counselors and teachers and organized five awareness 
campaigns in different urban centers.  Without rehabilitation 
hospitals and sufficient capacity in regular hospitals, 
addicts are typically placed in psychiatry wards or mental 
hospitals.  In 2006, the DCC completed an assessment of the 
capacity of urban hospitals to receive and treat drug addicts 
and found capacity lacking.  The police also have a public 
sensitization program on the dangers of drug trafficking but 
lack funding for significant outreach. 
 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
 
Bilateral Cooperation: 
---------------------- 
U.S. policy initiatives and programs for addressing narcotics 
 
problems in Tanzania focus on training workshops and seminars 
for law enforcement officials.  State Department law 
enforcement assistance includes funding the establishment of 
a forensics lab and training in its use.  At the Tanzanian 
government's request these facilities will include narcotics 
analysis capabilities. The State Department's 
counterterrorism bureau is funding the "PISCES" program to 
improve interdiction capabilities at major border crossings. 
While the program targets terrorist activities, it has 
implications for narcotics and other smuggling as well. 
 
The Road Ahead: 
--------------- 
U.S.-Tanzanian cooperation is expected to continue, with a 
focus on improving Tanzania's capacity to enforce its 
counternarcotics laws. 
RETZER