Rwanda National Police

The District Police Unit (DPU) of Burera was recently joined by partners in community policing to strengthen efforts against the vice of illicit drugs.

The event was attended by local leaders, teachers, parents and students from four schools.

It focused mainly how to work together with a common voice yo address the issue of drug trafficking and abuse in the district.

Burera is mapped as the major trafficking routes in the Northern Province along with Gicumbi.

The vice mayor of Burera in charge of...Jean Baptiste Habyarimana reiterated the need to have joint efforts between law enforcement agencies, parents, teachers and residents to curb drugs.

“Parents and school management should be closely monitoring to identify people who will interact with students especially during visiting days and at home,” Habyarimana said.

"We must zero down to protect the young people who are at higher risks of indulging into drugs," he added.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Rugigana noted that  drug traffickers tempt to target the young people who are easier to manipulate, thus the need to educate them at school and in their communities on dangers.

He observed that in northern region there have been cases of drug abuse in some schools which occasioned arrest of some people.

He added that teachers and parents and teachers should identify and report students who abuse drugs so that they are rehabilitated.