The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGZ) has presented the 2025 Drug Situation Report before the House of Representatives, as a parliamentary oversight committee recommends measures to strengthen security, health and social welfare.
The report was submitted pursuant to Section 11 of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority Act No. 8 of 2021.
Tabling the report on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the acting minister of state in the First Vice President’s Office, Mr Hamza Hassan Juma, revealed that the volume of illicit drugs seized in 2025 dropped to 533.552 kilograms.
“This quantity is different from the 729.587 kilograms seized in 2024, with this decline largely caused by a decrease in the seizure of methamphetamine and ketamine,” said Mr Juma.
The report also highlighted the global situation based on data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), showing that approximately 316 million people, representing six percent of people aged 15 to 64, used illicit drugs worldwide in 2023.
According to the statistics, cannabis led globally, with 244 million users.
In Zanzibar, according to the report, cannabis continued to record the highest number of suspects, with 183 of the 232 suspects apprehended in 2025 linked to the drug.
“Overall, the vast majority of suspects arrested in 2025 were men at 207 (89 percent) and 25 women,” said the minister.
Mr Juma said a total of 213 cases were reported across all districts of Zanzibar, with Urban District leading with 45 cases (21.13 percent), followed by West B District with 38 cases (17.84 percent).
Of the 148 cases brought to court, Mr Juma said 10 resulted in convictions, seven were acquitted, while 131 are ongoing in various courts across Unguja and Pemba.
In terms of achievements, the Zanzibar Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (ZDCEA) has successfully dismantled three major criminal syndicates and confiscated assets valued at Sh1.135 trillion derived from the illicit drug trade and money laundering.
Additionally, through the Kidimni Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, 440 of the 728 addicts admitted between 2022 and 2025 are living drug-free while receiving vocational training in auto mechanics, tailoring and modern agriculture.
Education on the effects of drugs and the law was provided to 23,691 people (11,755 women and 11,936 men) in schools, community meetings (shehia) and public institutions.
“The toll-free reporting system received 563 crime tips from citizens in 2025, and complete information was acted upon,” he said.
Despite these achievements, the Committee Overseeing Offices of National Leaders, chaired by Machano Othman Said, outlined key challenges and directives in its feedback statement.
The committee expressed concern over the large-scale trafficking of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis through maritime routes.
“Given Zanzibar’s geography surrounded by the sea, the committee advises the government to increase the pace of marine patrols, strengthen port security, and install modern inspection equipment,’ he said.
Furthermore, the committee censured the misuse of prescription drugs with narcotic properties, expressing concern over some pharmacy operators violating the law.
According to the committee’s observations, a report from the Food and Drug Agency showed that in 2025, 25,000 millilitres of ketamine were imported into the country, the highest volume ever recorded.
The committee urged the government to tighten controls at pharmacies and take appropriate legal action against violators.
Another area highlighted by the committee is the challenge of secure storage for seized drugs and court exhibits.
The committee advised improving storage systems and establishing secure, designated facilities to protect the integrity of such evidence.
Additionally, the committee urged the government to equip the ZDCEA with modern tools and technological systems, as well as develop specialised educational programmes for residents in coastal and island communities.