Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian authorities have seized 4,402.20 grammes of gold worth more than Sh1.238 billion in a major operation targeting the illegal trade and smuggling of minerals, as the government intensifies efforts to protect revenue from the country’s mining sector.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Monday July 27, 2026, Minister for Minerals Anthony Mavunde said the gold, valued at Sh1,238,458,594.42, had been intercepted while being smuggled outside the country’s official mineral trading system.
The seizure followed enhanced enforcement by a multi-agency task force established by the Ministry of Minerals in collaboration with state security agencies to curb illegal mineral trading and smuggling.
“The gold, worth more than Sh1.2 billion, did not pass through the official mineral trading system. As a result, the government would have lost revenue that could have been used to improve the delivery of public services,” Mr Mavunde said.
He said the confiscated gold had been forfeited to the State in accordance with the law and had been secured at the Bank of Tanzania.
Mr Mavunde directed the task force, working together with other law enforcement agencies, to carry out a thorough investigation into the suspect arrested in connection with the seizure.
He said investigators should establish the source of the gold and its intended destination in order to dismantle the entire smuggling network rather than prosecute only those directly involved in transportation.
“The objective is to eliminate the root causes of mineral smuggling by breaking the entire chain behind these illegal activities,” he said.
The minister further ordered that if the suspect held a valid mineral trading licence, it should be revoked immediately.
He also directed that the individual be placed on a blacklist to prevent any future participation in the country’s mineral trade.
Mr Mavunde expressed concern over the loss of government revenue resulting from mineral smuggling and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening oversight of the mining sector.
He also urged miners, traders and members of the public to conduct all mineral transactions through the country’s official trading channels and comply fully with the law.
The government has in recent years strengthened regulatory oversight of the mining industry through the establishment of mineral markets and buying centres, digital monitoring systems and multi-agency enforcement operations aimed at improving transparency, increasing revenue collection and combating illicit mineral trade.
