Mwinyi orders tougher anti-drug coordination

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has directed institutions responsible for drug control and enforcement to strengthen coordination, professionalism and accountability as authorities intensify efforts against sophisticated trafficking networks and emerging synthetic drugs.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the Zanzibar National Council for Drug Control and Combating Drugs at State House on Saturday, President Mwinyi brought together Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, ministers, senior government officials and heads of security and defence institutions to review measures against drug trafficking and abuse.

The meeting focused on improving coordination among government agencies to disrupt criminal networks, prevent trafficking and protect communities, particularly young people.

The Second Vice-President, Abdulla said traffickers were increasingly turning to synthetic drugs, which can be more harmful than traditional substances such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin.

“Some drugs were being disguised in sweets, chocolates and biscuits, while electronic cigarettes were also being used to conceal or deliver narcotic substances,” he said.

Mr Hemed also raised concern over the growing use of technology and social media by traffickers to identify, recruit and influence young people.

“Without strong family values, we risk losing the future workforce of our nation,” he said.

He called on parents, guardians, teachers, religious leaders and communities to strengthen family support and moral education to help protect young people from drug abuse.

Acting Minister in the Office of the First Vice-President and the Office of the Second Vice-President, Mr Hamza Hassan Juma described drug trafficking as an increasingly sophisticated and well-funded criminal enterprise involving wealthy individuals.

He called for enforcement agencies to be equipped with modern technology to improve their ability to detect and disrupt trafficking operations.

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Mr Hamza also urged the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Pemba for female drug users, saying such a facility would provide privacy and appropriate care.

Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (ZDCEA) Director General, Colonel Burhani Zubeir Nassoro and Tanzania Drug Control and Enforcement Authority Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo said continued cooperation between the two institutions remained critical in reducing drug-related crimes and dismantling trafficking networks.

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