In 2025, Tanzania saw 28 of its citizens arrested in different countries for involvement in drug trafficking, with Zambia recording the highest number of arrests at 20.Other countries included Botswana and Mozambique with two arrests each, while Mauritius, Japan, France, and Seychelles had one each.

Tanzanian authorities stress that those arrested are prosecuted under the laws of the countries where they are caught, and in some cases, penalties abroad are lighter than in Tanzania where drug trafficking carries a life sentence.Most arrested individuals were low-level couriers moving drugs between locations.Authorities also noted a shift by major traffickers to online platforms and cryptocurrency to hide illegal operations.Domestically, 14 foreigners were arrested for drug offenses, coming from countries like China, Sri Lanka, the UK, and others.Strengthened enforcement led to larger seizures, including 672.23 kg of heroin and 4.89 kg of cocaine, both significantly higher than 2024.A total of 1,124 drug-related cases were filed in Tanzanian courts, with 1,058 convictions secured.Experts highlighted that underlying causes, such as unemployment and influence from criminal networks, push young people into trafficking.The government continues to call for increased prevention, education, and youth support alongside strict enforcement to combat the problem.