SHINYANGA: THE Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), in collaboration with the National Prosecution Office (NPS), has taken to the Kahama District Court in Shinyanga Region 23 people accused of being involved in drugs trade.
According to information released yesterday by DCEA Communications Unit, the accused persons were brought before the Court to answer allegations of being involved in the trade of illicit drugs such as cannabis, heroin and khat.
Committing the offences was contrary to the law, that is, section 15 (1) (2) and section 17 of the Drugs Control and Enforcement Act, Chapter 95, as revised in 2019.
Reading the 18 criminal cases before Resident Magistrate Christina Chovenye, State Attorney, Mr John Hamenya alleged that the accused committed the offences at different times in February and March 2023 in Kahama District, while they clearly knew that the business they were doing was a crime.
He named the accused persons as Juma Lusangija (54), Mwajuma Kavula (36), Tayson Mwita Marwa (23), Emmanuel Christopher (33) and Amos Augustino (34), who are all residents of Mwime Street.
Others are Fred Bichuka (37), Rojasi Daudi (18), residents of Mhungula and Juma Merengo Merena (44), a resident of Kidete, Hassan Ngwenyau (27), a resident of Nyakato and Gerald Emmanuel (18), a resident of Nyasubi.
The other accused persons are Paulo Wilson (25), a resident of Nyakato, Joseph Lugenzi, Zamoyoni Andrea (26), a resident of Nyashimbi, Kobelo Ntahondi (42), a resident of Bukondamoyo, Raphael Masanja (37), a resident of Nyakato and Said Kayoka (27), a resident of Mhungula.
In the same boat are Saidi Mselem (22), a resident of Majengo, Haitham Salum Suleiman (31), a resident of Nyasubi, Samwel John (31), a resident of Malunga, Joseph Lugenzi (40), a resident of Malunga and Robert Lameck (24), a resident of Mwitongo.
The other accused persons are Hillary Nassoro (39), a resident of Malunga, Richard Mushi (30), a resident of Majengo, Izdory Temba (23), a resident of Malunga and Kassim Amori (27), a resident of Nyasubi.
All the accused persons have denied the charges facing them and their cases have been postponed until March 14, 15 and 26, this year for mention and others for preliminary hearing after investigation have been completed.
They were all sent to remand prison for lack of sureties. However, the chance of bail for the accused persons is open to those who would meet the conditions set by the Court.
On his part, the Acting Chief of Prosecution, Kahama District Office, Ms Salome Ngubuni said that her office has received 18 files from the DCEA and they have worked on them urgently to ensure that the suspects are brought to court quickly in accordance with the law