Authorities in Tanzania stop a boat carrying 448.3 kg of illegal substances

The anti-drug officials in Tanzania said on Thursday that they had seized a boat carrying 448.3 kg of illegal substances in the Indian Ocean.

The contraband, which included heroin and methamphetamine, were found on a boat flying the Pakistani flag, according to Aretas Lyimo, commissioner-general of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA).

Eight Pakistani nationals were also detained in connection with the drugs that were intercepted, Lyimo said during a press conference in the port city of Dar es Salaam. He said that the Pakistanis would be charged with drug trafficking following the completion of preliminary investigations.

Eight tonnes of cargo may be transported by the boat, he claimed.

Along the Dar es Salaam coastline of the Indian Ocean, the DCEA seized an additional 224.9 kg of illegal substances in cooperation with other security agencies, Lyimo said.

He disclosed that between November and December of last year, the drugs were confiscated and intercepted.