FIVE individuals have been arrested on charges of ticket scalping at the Magufuli intercity bus terminal in Dar es Salaam.

The arrests followed a surprise inspection conducted jointly by the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) and the Police over the weekend. Authorities say some of the suspects were caught selling paper tickets at inflated prices to passengers travelling to various regions from the terminal.

Speaking after the arrests, Latra Director General, Habibu Suluo, emphasised that the suspects would face legal action to serve as a warning to others involved in similar activities. “To prevent such practices, we are revising transport regulations to ensure that all bus agents are properly registered and legally recognised,” Suluo said.

He added that registered agents will be issued official identification and permits by Latra, ensuring accountability and reducing passenger exploitation.

“We are introducing a system where every agent will declare which vehicles they represent. Once registered, they will receive special identification and permission to operate. No one can act as an agent and exploit passengers without being formally authorised,” he explained.

Suluo said Latra is committed to improving the transport sector to ensure safe and reliable land transport for all passengers. He added that regular inspections would continue, especially during the busy end-of-year travel period.

To meet increased demand during this peak season, Latra has already issued 72 temporary permits allowing transport operators to add extra buses to accommodate the large number of travellers heading to various regions. The authority urges passengers to report any suspicious or illegal practices to ensure a smooth and secure travel experience.