Dodoma Police arrest 418 in wide crackdown

DODOMA: POLICE in Dodoma arrested 418 suspects and recovered an assortment of stolen goods, drugs and vehicles during a month-long security operation across the region.

The crackdown, conducted between August 12 and September 7, resulted in the seizure of 46.805 kilogrammes of khat, three kilogrammes of cannabis, 45 motorcycles and 39 drums of diesel, Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Gallus Hyera said on Monday.

Briefing journalists, ACP Hyera said 118 suspects were arrested while in possession of property suspected to have been stolen or intended for use in criminal activities.

“Recovered items included 24 boxes of tiles, 15 containers of rice, 127 chickens, five Hisense television sets, two HP computers, one Dell laptop, two smartphones, four vehicle batteries worth 1.8m/-, two 5,000-litre water tanks, 26 mobile phones, five fans and four gas cookers,” he said.

Police also recovered an aluminium machine, two radios, a power bank, a blender, a refrigerator, two shaving machines and two wristwatches.

ACP Hyera said the operation targeted specific offences, leading to the arrest of 16 suspects over vandalism of Ring Road infrastructure, seven over environmental offences, four over murders, one over rape and four over witchcraft-related offences.

“Two suspects were arrested in connection with child abuse, another two over livestock theft and 41 over housebreaking and theft, while 211 others were held over various offences,” ACP Hyera said.

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He said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and protect residents and public infrastructure across the region.

On road safety, ACP Hyera said the Traffic Police Unit intensified awareness campaigns in schools, bodaboda stands and bus stations while conducting enforcement operations that recorded 15,018 traffic offences during the period.

“Three drivers had their licences suspended for three months, another had a licence suspended for three years and 10 drivers were taken to court for trafficrelated offences, including reckless driving, speeding and carrying excess passengers,” he said.

ACP Hyera also said courts convicted 12 people during the period for offences including rape, sodomy, livestock theft, causing bodily injuries and reckless driving.

He further said one person convicted of rape and sodomy was sentenced to life imprisonment, while two others convicted of rape received 30-year prison terms.

Another offender convicted of livestock theft received a five-year prison sentence, while a person convicted of causing bodily injuries was also jailed for five years.

He urged residents to continue providing timely information on criminal activities and suspects to help police prevent and combat crime effectively.