Dar es Salaam police have arrested 126 suspects over various offences
Police have arrested 126 suspects over various offences such as armed robbery and drug abuse in an ongoing crackdown in several areas of Dar es Salaam.
The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Simon Sirro, told a press conference in the city yesterday that they also seized a Mark IV pistol and three rounds of ammunition during the crackdown.
Other items seized were knives, swords, six motorcycles used in robbery incidents, 413 pellets of suspected narcotic drugs, 50 bundles and 86 rolls of marijuana.
He said that last Sunday, police received intelligence reports that there were gangsters organising to commit robbery at Kinyerezi area in Ilala Municipality. When they invaded the scene, the police arrested Kichwele Ally Msangi (46), who revealed his accomplices as Hamis Ally Kichwele, Swalehe and Beya.
“A Mark IV pistol and three bullets were found hidden in a black bag belonging to Iddy Bashiri (24), who was at his uncle, Hamis Ally Kichwele’s house,” he narrated. According to Commander Sirro, 12 suspected armed robbers were found in possession of six motorcycles that were used to facilitate their robbery incidents in various areas in the city.
He said that during interrogations, the suspects admitted to be involved in several armed robbery incidents in the city, including killing and injuring people. In another development, Commander Sirro said they have arrested two suspected car thieves and four cars stolen in the city last year and earlier this year were recovered. He mentioned the suspects as Shaban and Innocent Timoth Njuu.
He said Shaban was suspected of stealing a Suzuki Carry with number T 240 DEU that was found hidden in a yard at Vingunguti area. He is suspected of stealing the car on February 20, this year, at Shauri Moyo area after the owner Mustafa Daruweshi gave him keys and asked him to park it properly. Njuu was found with a Toyota Brevis with registration number T 420 DAS, which was later on discovered to have fake registration and ownership documents.
“Two vehicles, a Toyota Rav 4 and Toyota Noah are on the way being returned to Dar es Salaam from Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions where they were being sold,” he said. Sirro said other 108 suspects were arrested after being found in possession of narcotic drugs, including eight suspects who were alleged to have broken into a house and stealing in Kigamboni.