Photo: Anthony Morland/IRIN

A total of 876 criminal cases involving small arms recorded and 62 firearms stolen in 2012- police (file photo).

Tanzanian police recovered 439 illegal firearms from citizens in a month-long drive to collect unlicensed weapons, police spokesperson Advera Senso announced Monday (January 7th).

The police drive, which ended January 5th, afforded Tanzanians an opportunity to give up their illegal arms without consequence, Tanzania's The Guardian reported. Surrendered weapons included shotguns, rifles, submachine guns, pistols, air guns and rockets.

Police will now begin a countrywide search for and arrest people who continue to keep weapons without appropriate permission.

The police called on citizens to provide information on anyone with an illegal weapon. Any Tanzanian offering information that leads to an arrest will be rewarded with at least 100,000 shillings ($63), Senso said.

Of 876 incidents of armed robbery last year in Tanzania, 62 were conducted with illegal weapons, according to The Guardian.