Kitaifa
Tanzania allays fears of wild animal smuggling to the UAE
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has allayed fears of wild animal smuggling to the Arab Gulf States, as reported on social media.
There has been several claims of wild animals smuggling direct from Loliondo to the United Arab Emirates using cargo aircraft.
According to the TCAA, the reports are false.
“This and other related information on wild smuggling through Loliondo are untrue,” TCAA director general, Mr Hamza Johari said in a statement to the public on Monday.
The UAE Air Force aircraft, according to the statement seen by The Citizen, last operated on July 19, 2023 when it was en route to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
On that day, there were 18 Tanzanians on board, eight crew members (two pilots, two engineers and two loadmasters) from the UAE and it transported normal baggage, which was offloaded upon arrival at KIA.
The aviation regulator said it has a real-time trafficking system and all international flights enter and depart through official airports such as KIA, Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Aman Abeid Karume International Airport (AAKIA)
“And other designated entry or exit points. Loliondo is not an entry or exit point from or to Tanzania,” the statement reads in part.
According to international aviation laws, aircraft from one country to another cannot be received without permission to land or overfly the airspace of the country concerned.
“This therefore means that all international aircraft bound for Tanzania must land at one of the entry or exit points, such as JNIA, KIA, Mwanza, Dodoma and Musoma airports,” the statement adds.
TCAA said will collaborate with other relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the country’s airspace.