DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has seized 4.4 kilogrammes of gold worth more than 1.2bn/- after intercepting a consignment that bypassed the official mineral trading system, with the authorities vowing to dismantle the wider network behind the illegal trade.
The gold was seized on Saturday in the Kiluvya area during an ongoing crackdown on mineral smuggling, Minerals Minister Anthony Mavunde said.
He said the attempted smuggling would have denied the government about 108.36m/- in revenue. The seized gold has since been forfeited and is being kept at the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) pending completion of legal procedures.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, Mr Mavunde said the operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force established to strengthen enforcement of mining laws and curb illegal mineral trading.
He said authorities were not only targeting the person transporting the gold but were also investigating the entire chain involved, including financiers, suppliers and intended buyers.
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“We want to establish where the gold originated, who financed the operation, who was receiving it and everyone involved in the chain, so that they are all brought to justice,” he said.
Mr Mavunde warned that any licensed mineral trader found involved in smuggling would have their licence cancelled and be permanently barred from conducting mineral business.
He said smugglers had changed their tactics, with some using passenger transport to move minerals from mining areas to major towns before attempting to sell or export them outside the official system.
The minister urged miners, dealers and other stakeholders to conduct transactions through the country’s 144 officially designated mineral markets and buying centres, warning that minerals found outside approved channels would be confiscated in accordance with the law.
He said strengthening controls in the mineral trade was essential to ensuring the country benefits fully from its natural resources. The mining sector generated 1.393tri/- in non-tax revenue during the financial year that ended on June 30, 2026, he added.
Mr Mavunde said reducing illegal mineral trading would help increase government revenue to support key public services, including education and healthcare.
