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Kinyarwanda
Police in Kirehe District, yesterday intercepted 37 cows suspected to have been stolen from Tanzania.
According Police investigations, the cows were stolen from Tanzania's border district of Karagwe, and guided through Cyiminsi Forest into Rwanda through a porous border in Saruhembe Cell, Mahama Sector.
They were intercepted at about 2:00 am on February 17, Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province, said, adding that they are still searching for the suspected thieves, who escaped when they saw Police, abandoning the cows.
IP Kayigi said the cows were taken to a farm owned by the Ministry of Agriculture in Kirehe, to ascertain their health condition.
"The cows are being examined to ensure that they are healthy and do not have diseases that they can transmit. We are in touch with Tanzanian authorities to ensure that the cows are sent back and given to their rightful owners," he said.
He noted that RNP is at the helm of preventing illegal crossings through porous borders, which are usually used by criminals such as smugglers, human traffickers and fugitives.
"Police has been able to cooperate fruitfully with the public through community policing, whereby residents in border areas provide timely information that helps in the arrest of such suspects. This good practice should continue in order to cement the peace and prosperity experienced in Rwanda."
One of the initiatives that Police uses to prevent porous border crimes include snap checks, collaboration with immigration and other relevant offices as well as employing Interpol's I-247 Communication tool to identify fugitives and stolen items.
