THE Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) has resolved incidents of cargo theft while on flight, by ordering airlines to install surveillance cameras to follow luggage along the freight and delivery process.

Seif Abdallah Juma, the ZAA director general, said at a press conference here yesterday that the move follows reports of theft of traders’ cargo at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport before offloading aircraft, opting to screen baggage handlers entering and exiting work areas.

Complaints were received from traders whose goods were stolen while on transit through the airport after arriving from overseas markets, notably from Dubai, he said, acknowledging incidents in which items were removed from traders’ luggage, despite  being unable to determine at what point in the delivery channel the thefts took place.

After confirming the theft incidents, ZAA convened meetings with key stakeholders, including baggage handlers and concerned passengers, to trace the source of the thefts, he said.

It was difficult to establish whether the thefts were occurring within the airport itself, as security cameras monitoring the handling of luggage — from offloading aircraft to delivery on the baggage conveyor belt — did not record any incidents of theft, he stated.

Suspicion then turned to aircraft cargo holds, where thefts were believed to be taking place, but investigations failed to reach a definitive conclusion due to the absence of surveillance cameras in those areas, he explained.

As a result, ZAA formed a special committee involving security agencies, which implemented a one-month operation involving inspections of luggage before offloading and strict screening of all personnel handling baggage.

The exercise showed that a significant portion of the affected luggage had already been opened before arriving at Zanzibar Airport, prompting further moves to address the problem and ensure that the thefts were not occurring within the airport premises, he declared.

ZAA directed all aircraft to install surveillance cameras in their cargo holds and required baggage handlers to wear body cameras while on duty, measures that have since eliminated complaints of baggage theft, he specified.

Earlier, traders transporting goods through the airport said they were shocked to find their luggage tampered with and items missing, causing them substantial financial losses.

Hamad Kombo Hamad, a mobile phone trader, said traders were “completely baffled. We collect our cargo from Dubai and ensure it is secure at every stage. Even when it is transferred from one aircraft to another at Addis Ababa airport, we confirm that it is safe. But when it arrives in Zanzibar, we find it has been broken into and items have been stolen,” he said.

Othman Mjaka Ali, another trader, said the thefts had repeatedly occurred and despite lodging complaints with the relevant authorities, no effective action was initially taken.

“In many cases, the goods are no longer ours because customers have already paid. When we deliver incomplete orders, they do not understand, and we are forced to cover the losses ourselves. This sets us back commercially and causes serious financial damage,” he added.