Two Tanzanians charged in Egyptian court

Dar es Salaam. Two Tanzanians have appeared in court in Egypt to answer charges of possessing heroin weighing seven kilograms. They were arrested at the Cairo International Airport two weeks ago.

Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, head of the Information Department in the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mkumbwa Ali, said that the Tanzanian embassy in Egypt had confirmed the arrest of Ms Sharifa Musa Mahmud, a resident of Ilala, in Dar es Salaam and Mr Mbaraka Abdalah Tamim, a resident of Magomeni.

Ms Mahmud was found holding the passport of Oman, however, Mr Ali said.

‘‘We have official reports about the arrest of these two Tanzanians who were carrying heroin to Asia and were arrested in Egypt two weeks ago,’’ said Mr Mkumbwa.

A video showing Ms Mahmud being searched by Egyptian police was spread in social networks four days ago.

According to Egyptian laws a person caught with drugs is sentenced to death. There were reports that the duo was to be hanged yesterday.

But Mr Ali disputed the veracity of the reports saying the case against the two Tanzanians has only been mentioned once in court and the ruling was yet to be issued.

Source: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Two-Tanzanians-charged-in-Egyptian-court/-/1840392/1874574/-/tojmvp/-/index.html