English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police calls upon the public to be actively involved in the fight against drug abuse, which if tolerated could threaten the social economic development of Rwanda.
Police leads this fight, and just recently on January 16, the law enforcers in Gicumbi District confiscated 572 litres of illicit brew and 18 sachets of a dangerous liquor knows as Chief Waragi.
SSP Karangwa Murenge, Rubavu District Police Commander, said that three suspects were arrested in the operations and are currently held at Byumba Police Station as investigations continue.
"Two suspects were in a car with the illicit drugs while another one was in front them in a motorcycle entrusted to ensure that he alerts the driver in case he spots traffic officers ahead," he said.
"However Police is well aware of all these tactics aware and we were aware noble to apprehend them aware and confiscate the illicit brew before they escaped. We call upon the general public to fight this by alerting police whenever they are suspicious of any individuals or activities."
Fighting and preventing drug trade and consumption has been one of the priorities of the Rwanda National Police in the past years.
The force is continously engaged in breaking the supply chain of illegal drugs and illicit brew by mapping-out individuals and groups involved in this crime, and several public institutions and individuals across the country have been vital in this campaign, which led to the arrest hundreds of dealers, most of whom have been prosecuted and drugs such as cannabis and illicit brews seized and destroyed.
Awareness programmes in communities, on radios and during special occasions like ‘community policing and Police Week’ have also helped to make the public understand the negative effects of drug abuse.
Article 598 of the penal code stipulates that any person who manufactures, sells, prescribes a drug, harmful products, cosmetics or body hygiene and other herbal substances prohibited in healing practice, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf 5 million or one of these.
