The suspects include one Iranian and four Tanzanians.

The suspects were intercepted at the country’s coastal city Dar es Salaam’s Kunduchi Mtongani suburbs while transporting the consignment using two saloon cars.

Anti-narcotic boss who is also the Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Godfrey Nzowa described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the war against drugs, especially at a time when a UN report cited Tanzania as a favourable route for international traffickers.

Reports indicate that the consignment, which was from Iran, was offloaded in the deep sea before being ferried to one of the local beaches using small boats and later transported to the city suburbs where the police trailed the suspects.

Changing tactics

“They vigorously tried to escape but it was too late. We had surrounded them from every corner,” Mr Nzowa said.

He added that drug dealers were changing tactics and some of them were even using diplomatic passports to traffic narcotics.

According to police reports, one of the suspects is related to Mr Mohamed Ali Pouradad, another Iranian who was arrested in March last year in Tanga with 95kg of heroin.