MWANZA: THE Mwanza Regional Police Force has arrested 227 people involved in various criminal activities and traffic offences.
Mwanza Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Wilbrod Mutafungwa, made the announcement early this week, during a press briefing in Mwanza.
He explained that the arrests were the result of a series of operations and crackdowns conducted by the police force between February 27th and March 27th this year.
The operations aimed to curb criminal activities and reduce road crashes in Mwanza Region.
Among those arrested, seven suspects were found in possession of counterfeit banknotes, 104 were involved in various criminal activities and 56 were caught with illicit local alcohol commonly known as ‘gongo’.
The RPC said six suspects were arrested for illegal fishing practices, 14 were caught using illegal drugs and a total of 125 suspects have been interrogated and taken to court, where their cases are at various stages.
The seized evidence includes counterfeit 9,740 US dollars, 372 litres of illicit brew, 23 kilograms of marijuana, 13 pieces of illegal fishing nets and four distilling machines used to produce gongo.
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Regarding the counterfeit currency, RPC Mutafungwa said that on March 1st, this year at around 1:30 pm, police received information about individuals attempting to circulate a large amount of fake foreign currency in Kemondo, Nyamagana District.
Following an investigation, eight suspects were arrested with 9,740 US dollars in counterfeit.
The suspects arrested included Frank Joseph (34), a resident of Mtukula, Kagera Region, Augustino Mambo (32), a businessman from Dodoma Region, Lau Wanjara (45), a technician from Ilemela Municipality in Mwanza City and Isaya Ndilihungwa (61), a traditional healer from Dar es Salaam. Others are Cleophas Magoti (40), a farmer from Makondeko, Morogoro Region, Jeronimo Method (34), a businessman from Mkolani, Mwanza City, Joseph Rhobynson (42), a businessman from Nyamhongoro, Ilemela Municipality and Wilberd Frances (32), a resident of Dar es Salaam. Commander Mutafungwa insisted that investigations are ongoing, in collaboration with other agencies, to uncover the network behind these crimes.
The suspects have been charged with money laundering, possession of counterfeit currency and organised crime under Economic Sabotage Case No 7118/2025.
In another incident, RPC Mutafungwa revealed two separate deaths in Mwanza. One of the victims was fatally stabbed following a dispute related to love affairs.
