Tanzania confiscates 130 vehicles

By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania

The government of Tanzania has confiscated 130 vehicles that were seized smuggling or ferrying materials and products under economic sabotage and organized crime act.

Inspecting the vehicles at old Dodoma bus terminal Tuesday August 25, President of Tanzania, John Magufuli ordered nationalization of the vehicles.

The vehicles are trucks, Sport Utility Vehicles to saloon cars.

According to a statement availed to the media by the Director of Presidential Communications, Gerson Msigwa, the vehicles were seized in various parts of the country.

The nationalization of the vehicles is a legal stage sanctioned by the court after conducting a case pitting the government and owners, with the former winning the suit.

Magufuli congratulated the of Director of Public Prosecutions, the Police Force and all other stakeholders involved in arresting the culprits, including individuals who were involved in the banned ivory trade.

He directed the vehicles be distributed to various government departments to serve the public.

The reviewed Economic and Organised Crime Act, 1984 provides that “where a person is convicted of an economic offence and the Court is satisfied that any property which was in his possession or under his control at the time of his apprehension was so used or involved in the commission of the offence with the knowledge or consent of its owner, the Court shall make an order under this section in respect of that property.”

In this case, the Tanzania courts ordered confiscation of the properties following their owners’ convictions. - Africa