On May 30, 2022, Tanzania's Minister for Minerals, Doto Biteko, announced the arrest of eight traders in the northwestern region of Geita for smuggling gold out of the country.
The government launched a clampdown on unscrupulous gold traders after sales started going down in minerals trading centres, according to Minister Biteko.
"The eight traders have been detained helping police in their investigations," Minister Biteko said.
However, he declined to reveal the amount of gold found in their possession.
Minister Biteko urged traders to stop buying gold in the streets and instead purchase the precious stones in state-run mineral trading centres.
Established in 2019, these centres provide small-scale miners with direct access to a formal, regulated market where they can trade their gold.
