Dar es Salaam: Police arrest 176 for various offences in one week

The Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone have from March 2-9, this year, arrested 176 suspects over various offences such as armed robbery and drug abuse in the ongoing crackdown in several areas of Dar es Salaam.

The Zone Police Commander, Simon Sirro, told a press conference in the city that they also seized a Pump Action and shotgun and rounds of ammunition during the crime clean-up operations. Other weapons used in crimes seized were knives, swords, six motorcycles used in robbery incidents, 213 pellets of suspected narcotic drugs, 70 bundles and 106 rolls of marijuana.

“On March 9, this year, at Salasala, police who were patrolling the area seized a pump action pistol with registration number Mv 26631 with rounds of ammunition together with a sword that were abandoned by six bandits, who were about to committee a robbery at Ocean State Industry,” narrated the zone police boss.

In another incident, the police force has taken possession of a shotgun with registration number IC-258353-02. The shotgun was abandoned at Kitunda Relini where it was found in a sack. It was presumed left there after police intensified operations on guns verification.

In another development, Commander Sirro said they arrested two suspects, who allegedly were about to go on a raid with their car in various robbery incidents in the city. Without disclosing their names, Mr Sirro said the suspects used a Toyota Mark II Grand with registration number T 400 CNC.

They used the car in their robbery and other crimes.

“The suspects said they bought the car from people who robbed, abducted and abandoned them in an area unknown to them,” he said.

Mr Sirro said during interrogations, the suspects admitted they were involved in the robbery using the car, adding that investigation continues before they were taken to court.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police through the traffic unit, has collected 840m/- from fines spanning over 28,007 traffic offences in eight days.