JUHUDI ZA KUPAMBANA NA USAFIRISHAJI NA UUZAJI WA MADAWA YA KULEVYA TANZANIA KAMA ILIVYORIPOTIWA NA KIKOSI MAALUMU KWA MWENYEKITI WA BARAZA LA USALAMA. (A NUTSHELL OF DRUGS WAR IN TANZANIA)

LETTER DATED 27 JUNE 2012 FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE MONITORING  GROUP ON SOMALIA AND ERITREAN ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE  SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO RESOLUTIONS 751 (1992)  AND 1907 (2009) CONCERNING SOMALIA AND ERITREA.

 ( NAMES  ARE WITHHELD  HERE BUT APPEAR IN THE ORIGINAL MONITORING GROUP REPORT)

 (MAJINA YA WAHUSIKA YAMEFUNIKWA HAPA  ILA KATIKA RIPOTI YA KIKOSI HICHO YAPO. HAPA NI KUONESHA TU JINSI JANGA HILI LILIVYO KUBWA LINALOHITAJI USHIRIKIANO MKUBWA KUPAMBANA NALO)  

Our aim is not to mention names, but just to show how huge the problem of  drugs in Tanzania is, and therefore, encourage every stake holder to take delibate action collectivelly to eradicate  if not totally abolish in our society.     

               

                                     

                             Annex 3.2.: Ansaar Muslim Youth Centre (AMYC), Tanzania

                                                                   Overview

1. The Ansaar Muslim Youth Centre (AMYC), based in Tanga, Tanzania and headed by Sheikh (…….), engages in radicalization, recruitment  and fund raising on behalf of Al-Shabaab. AMYC has also sent at least one trainer to  Somalia in support of Al-Shabaab, and has facilitated the entry of Al-Shabaab members  into Tanzania. To accomplish some of these tasks, the AMYC has entered into partnership with Tanga-based criminal networks engaged in smuggling and drug trafficking.

43. Two law enforcement sources in Tanga have separately confirmed to the  Monitoring Group that “(……)” activities include drug trafficking, oil bunkering and human smuggling in both directions between Somalia and Tanzania 70 A long-time  associate of “………..” has separately told the Monitoring Group that “………” undertakes  human smuggling on behalf of AMYC activist and recruiter, (……).71

44. The fishermen engaged by the ….. network, have often claimed they not aware  of the nature of their cargo, a suggestion the Monitoring Group finds difficult to accept. …….., a fisherman with over ten years experience in the Tanga fishing sector, has often worked for the ………. network as a boat’s captain. Contrary to multiple testimonies, ……. denies ever fishing or sailing beyond Tanzania waters, he later admitted to the Monitoring Group that he occasionally ferries goods and “does the jobs”  he is asked to do, without having any knowledge of the contents of the packages.

45. …….., popularly known as “…….”, is a close associate of ……..  and also member of the …… network. Like many of the “…….”  network members, “……..” is originally from the Island of Pemba, and a trusted and experienced operator.73 In discussions with close associates, “…….’s ” had acknowledged his own role in transporting recruits to Somalia; smuggling  Somalis into Tanga74; trafficking drugs; and smuggling diesel to destinations in Somalia controlled by Al-Shabaab, including Kismayo and Baraawe.

46. On 24 March 2012, “…….”, representing the “…….”  network,  met with a member of a Zambian drug ring at  the ….. bar in Tanga. The purpose of  the meeting was to assemble a team from the “……”  network and to identify members of the Tanga police and military who might cooperate in the transportation of  drugs from Mombasa, and the smuggling of Tanzanian Al-Shabaab recruits to Somalia. During the course of the discussion, “……….” explained how the network has made use of Kenyan territory as a transit point for Al-Shabaab recruits in transit from Tanga to Somalia:75  Like the way we help people from Mombasa to Somalia. You will find one ship owner gaining weight as the number of his trips to Somalia increase. He gets bigger machines [boats], buys a big house and big cars. But everyone knows that he is helping others at a price. And people are trying to earn quick cash in this way.76

47. “………” explains that the ……… network’s standard practice is to use  medium-size vessels with a capacity to carry seventy people to Somalia at a charge of 75 Between the March and April 2012, the “……..”  network had been negotiating with a member of a Zambian drug network on importing drugs (heroin and qaad) from Mombasa and transferring 38  passengers to Somalia.

55. Multiple sources have attributed the success of “……’s” network in Tanga to the  complicity of local law enforcement and security officials.88 According to one member  of the network: “…….”! “…….” can get himself out of any situation! He is sly! Even if they  [Police] get him with the stuff [drugs and/or goods], all he does is take them  aside, orders some drinks and gives them something small and sooner or later he  continues with his journey. He is sly! There is a time when they [Maritime Police]  surrounded the “Kokoteni”.89 They [Maritime Police] came and tried to harass him but I don’t know what he told them, they dispersed.90