Human security consequences of illicit drugs in Tanzania: a case of Dar es Salaam region

This study investigated the consequences of illicit drugs on human security in Tanzania. By using interview and observation data were gathered in Dar es Salaam. The study focused on the following institutions: Anti Drugs Unit, Tanzania Drugs Control Commission, Muhimbili National Hospital and the prison facilities (Keko, Segerea and Ukonga). Despite the fact that Tanzania is targeted as a transit and destination of illicit drugs, the human security consequences of illicit drugs are little known. The study found out that the escalated consumption, sale and trafficking of illicit drugs in Tanzania pose serious threat to health, economic, political and social security. Drug cartels are in most cases bent on undermining the stability of the state because this facilitates their illegal business. Corruption is one of the strategies employed to entice unethical law enforcers in order to allow evasion of the law. Also, illicit drugs threaten both traffickers and consumers. Associated diseases and incident of drug pellets burst are known to have killed traffickers and consumers. The study concluded that illicit drugs business distorts economic security since the government is losing a lot of revenue from this illegal investment as laundered money is diverted into other black market ventures. The study recommended an integral approach in rooting out the problem of illicit drugs involving national strategies that are complementing the international efforts.