DCEA Commissioner General, Aritas Lyimo.
By Asraji Mvungi
Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has seized and destroyed more than 800 kilogrammes of khat (mirungi), a stimulant classified as a narcotic drug in Tanzania, following intensified operations in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions.
A Senior DCEA official, Mr Benson Mwaitenda, said the action was part of the ongoing crackdown against the illegal trade. He noted that legal procedures against those arrested in connection with the seizures were already underway.
Mr Mwaitenda urged the public – especially young people – to abandon the drug trade and instead focus on lawful work. His call was echoed by residents, including Mr Dismas Simioni of Arusha, who stressed that the spread of khat was a serious problem that must be addressed with urgency.
DCEA Commissioner General, Mr Aritas Lyimo, said that the authority continues to strengthen efforts to combat trade in narcotics. Among the strategies being rolled out was the establishment of permanent control posts in key regions, including Kilimanjaro and Tanga.
Khat is a leafy plant chewed for its body stimulating effects, which is legally and widely consumed in Ethiopia and Kenya but is banned in Tanzania. In Kilimanjaro Region, particularly in Same and Rombo districts, the fertile mountain slopes provide ideal conditions for its cultivation. For many smallholder farmers, the crop has been a lucrative alternative for cash crops and is smuggled into neighbouring countries where it remains legal.
The Arusha Region serves more as a transit hub than a major cultivation zone, with its location along key trade routes making it a corridor for trafficking khat southward to Dar es Salaam or westward into the Great Lakes region. Authorities say khat was contributing to school dropouts, reduced productivity and social problems. Enforcement operations, while applauded by many, also raise concerns about alternative livelihoods for farmers who have long depended on khat as a source of income.
DCEA’s “Tokomeza Mirungi” campaign has intensified in recent years, involving the destruction of plantations, burning publicly seized consignments and the prosecution of traffickers. Despite those measures, the trade persists due to strong demand and profitable cross-border markets, making it one of the most challenging narcotics issues facing northern Tanzania today.
