Tanzanian police issued a stern warning on Monday, urging individuals in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender them before the deadline of midnight on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Tanzania Police Force emphasized that once the deadline passes, a rigorous crackdown will begin on anyone still holding illegal firearms, with those found in possession facing legal prosecution.

“Police are calling on those with illegal firearms to hand them over to local authorities or police stations willingly before facing severe consequences,” said police spokesperson David Misime in the statement.

In late August, authorities announced the launch of a new initiative to combat the presence of illegal firearms, giving individuals a two-month window, from September 1 to October 31, to surrender their weapons.

Minister of Home Affairs, Hamad Masauni, warned that those who fail to comply within this period will be prosecuted.

In a related effort, in November 2022, police destroyed over 6,200 firearms surrendered during a similar crackdown between September 5 and October 31, 2022. These included pistols, rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns handed over by individuals who had been in illegal possession of them.