Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday appointed a new team to lead the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority as the war on drugs in the East African country gained speed.

A statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House said the president appointed Rogers William Sianga Commissioner General of the authority.

Magufuli also appointed Mihayo Msikela the Commissioner of Operations and Fredrick Kibuta Commissioner of Intelligence.

The president made the new appointments two days after a Tanzanian senior official released a new list of 65 suspected drug traffickers that included politicians, religious leaders and business tycoons.

Paul Makonda, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, said some of the suspects owned five star hotels, shopping malls, and were former and current Members of Parliament.

Last week Makonda declared war on drug traffickers and he has already named over 100 suspects, some of whom have already been taken to court.

Releasing the names of the suspects, Makonda said the war on drugs was very tough since it involved wealthy and powerful people.

The Tanzanian president has supported Makonda and ordered the armed forces to help in arresting people suspected to engage in drug trafficking. 

Source: Xinhua