A US Army sergeant, Charles Onkuri Ongeta, 30, was arrested at the Sirari border in Tanzania on Sunday, November 16, 2025, for attempting to enter the country with four CS M68 hand grenades.
Ongeta, a dual citizen of the US and Kenya, was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number KDP 502 Y when he was stopped by police.
According to Tanzanian police, Ongeta’s possession of the grenades is strictly prohibited under the country’s firearms laws, and even if he had applied for a permit, entry would not have been permitted.
The police are conducting further investigations and questioning Ongeta to determine the source of the grenades and any possible connections to larger arms trafficking networks.
The arrest comes amidst heightened security concerns in Tanzania, following post-election violence that left hundreds dead.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has previously hinted at foreigners playing a role in the unrest, sparking concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in the country.
