ARUSHA, Tanzania, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in north-western Tanzania have arrested 11 persons for allegedly smuggling timber and charcoal in Lake Victoria, police said Monday.
The suspects were arrested in Tanzania's north-western district of Sengerema for smuggling more than 3,000 pieces of timber and consignment of charcoal using three boats.
The consignment of timber and charcoal came from as far as the western region of Kigoma through Geita Region located on the western shores of Lake Victoria, the Africa's largest freshwater lake.
Ahmed Msangi, Mwanza Regional Police Commander said that the untaxed consignment was later transported through boats to one of the islands in Lake Victoria waters, which is some kilometers to Mwanza city.
Msangi said that the consignment was transported through three boats-MV Safari 4, MV Safari 5, all owned by Sophia Zacharia of Chato District and MV Kilimanjaro of George Kimaro of Mwanza city.
"Those people were arrested on February 26, this year at around 4 pm local time in a small island of Kome mchangani located in Lake Victoria off Mwanza city," he said, noting the consignment was seized following a close collaboration between police, forestry officers and ordinary people.
"Police were tipped off by good Samaritans on the consignment and when made a closer follow-up, they managed to arrest all the suspects as well as seizing the entire cargo parked in a boat."
The regional police chief said that police were investigating the matter before taking the suspects to court.
