Passengers unknowingly caught in drug trade as campaign targets bus travel

Hundreds of passengers, bus conductors, and transport workers across Tanzania are unknowingly becoming entangled in drug trafficking networks. Authorities have issued a stark warning that agreeing to carry parcels for strangers, even without knowledge of their contents, puts individuals at risk of arrest and prosecution.

In response to this growing concern, a nationwide film campaign titled 'Safe Transport Without Drugs' has been launched. This initiative seeks to curb the trend by educating the public, including drivers, conductors, and cargo handlers, on the significant dangers associated with transporting packages whose contents are unknown.

The campaign was officially launched at the Magufuli Bus Terminal in Dar es Salaam by the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA). DCEA Commissioner General Areta highlighted that criminal networks are increasingly exploiting public transport systems to move illicit drugs throughout the country. The use of films screened on buses aims to reach a wide audience and raise awareness about the risks involved in unknowingly participating in the drug trade.

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criminal networks are increasingly exploiting public transport systems to move illicit drugs across the country.