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Kinyarwanda
Separate Police operations against drug trafficking conducted mainly in City of Kigali and Rubavu District led to the arrest of five suspected drug traffickers.
The suspects were at the time found with varied quantities of cannabis, Police said.
Police identified the suspects as Jean Baptiste Nzasabahandi, Prosper Hakizimana, Grace Mukandayisenga and Michel Basenge, all arrested separately in Kigali.
The fifth suspect, Janvier Habiyakare Bitwayiki, was arrested in Rubavu and currently detained at Gisenyi Police station.
Reacting to arrests in Kigali, the Central Region Police spokesperson, Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu attributed such successful operations to intensified community policing activities including sensitization campaigns and information sharing with the public.
“The campaigns and operations against drug abuse are mainly geared towards breaking the chain of supply. The best part in this fight is that the public have owned it and they are the main source of information on suppliers in their communities, and routes which is a big step forward,” Supt. Hitayezu said.
The arrests and seizure of drugs comes at the time when Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the public and other players in policing, are mainly focusing on identifying and arresting traffickers as an effective way to prevent abuse of the psychotropic substances.
“Once again, we warn anyone involved in drug dealings that they will be arrested sooner than later,” he warned.
“Fighting drug related crimes remains among the priorities of Rwanda National Police; we can’t underestimate the role of the public in this campaign to identify and report.”
Hitayezu further cautioned that “Police officers across the country, working with the people, are always alert to ensure that such suspects are apprehended.”
