English
Kinyarwanda
Authorities in Burera District, Thursday, disposed of illicit drugs worth over Rwf15 million in a public exercised presided over by the Governor of Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi.
The substances were seized from varied traffickers and dealers in operation conducted in the past month.
Present was also the Regional Police Commander-North, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Ntaganira.
Governor Gatabazi observed that although there are increased operations and arrest of dealers, the region continues to be used as both a trafficking route through porous borders as well as destination, and called for strengthened proactive policing to report dealers.
He called upon local leaders and residents to work together to enhance the ideology of community policing and share information on people they suspect to be drug dealers and increase community night patrols.
The Governor said that illicit drugs continue to ruin lives of young people hence affecting human development. He warned traffickers of increased operations to face the wrath of the law.
About 70 percent of drug dealers, abusers and addicts are the young people aged between 18 and 35 years, according to statistics.
The law against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was revised with a penalty for those labelled as big dealers ranging between 25 years and life in prison, under article 263 of the new penal code.
ACP Ntaganira thanked the residents for continued partnership through which the destroyed drugs were seized based on credible information.
He said the Police not only seize drugs and arrests perpetrators, but also provides awareness programs for people and students to prevent new users as one of the ways to kill the local market.
