Rwanda National Police

The fight against trafficking, making, selling and use of narcotic drugs continued in the Northern Province on Tuesday as Rwanda National Police (RNP), the ministries of Health and Justice as well as faith-based organizations engaged residents of Burera and Gicumbi districts in the campaign against the vice.

The campaign also involved grassroots leaders, head-teachers and teachers, motorcyclists, cyclists, anti-drug and crime clubs, youth volunteers, among others.

The Governor of the Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, while addressing residents of Kinyababa Sector in Burera District embarked on the effectiveness of partnership and strengthened community night patrols in addressing the problem.

“Security is a general responsibility, and that’s why we have community night patrols and community policing committees comprised of grassroots leaders,” Governor Gatabazi told the residents

“Night patrols should be strengthened to serve the purpose; as a resident or a leader, you need to work together with security organs, facilitate fast flow of information on drug dealers in your localities so that they are arrested to face justice and to protect your families and communities against insecurity brought about by these drugs,” the Governor said.

Governor JMV Gatabazi addressing local leaders.

Last week, Police seized illicit gin worth over Rwf1 million. In December last year, Police arrested about 160 drug dealers, who were at the time caught with 35016 sachets of contrabands and thousands of litres of a crude gin locally known as Kanyanga.

Also in August last year, psychotropic substances including 1000 litres of kanyanga, worth over Rwf4 million were disposed of in Rusarabuye Sector in Burera before other narcotics valued at Rwf2.5 million were destroyed in October the same year.

The Governor also recommended that anti-kanyanga clubs be formed in schools, cooperatives, youth groups and at every village. Currently, anti-kanyanga clubs are at the sector level both in Burera and Gicumbi districts.

He also called for active participation of everyone in Umugoroba w’ababyeyi—an evening forum of elders—and discuss ways and means through which they will effectively fight the issues of drugs, and exchange information on dealers.

RPC, ACP Eric Mutsinzi speaking during a meeting with local leaders

He further warned grassroots leaders against reluctance reminding them as members of community policing committees and leaders, it will be a sign of failure if drugs a found in areas of their responsibility.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Eric Mutsinzi, the Regional Police Commander-North, also embarked on the common drugs in Burera and the region in general.

While noting that contrabands like kanyanga and others packed in banned plastic bags are the most common drugs, he said that all other crimes and domestic conflicts recorded in the region and in Burera in particular, are largely caused by drugs and committed by people under the influence of drugs.

With Burera and Kinyababa sector in particular lying on the borderline, the RPC urged the residents not to allow their communities to be used as trafficking routes for traffickers and smugglers by reporting anyone they see or suspect to be involved in any criminal acts.