Rwanda National Police

Police in Rusizi District have appealed to fishermen operating in Lake Kivu to be anti-crime agents in the waters.

The fishermen were told that Lake Kivu is one of the routes used by smugglers and drug traffickers thus the need to work together to make it "impassable for criminals."

The call was made on October 11, by Chief Inspector of Police(CIP) Victoire Mukantagara, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Rusizi during the meeting with 110 fishermen under their fishing cooperative-- UCOOPEPORU --that operates in the lake. UCOOPEPORU has over 300 members.

Present was also the head of cooperatives in Rusizi District, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva as well as Jean Claude Nzeyimana, the chairman of UCOOPEPORU.

CIP Mukantagara reminded them that the security in Lake Kivu including fighting smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal fishing and other sorts of lawlessness is largely their responsibility as first responded and community policing agents in the waters.

"On several occasions drug traffickers and smugglers have been arrested either being facilitated by fishermen or swimming to sneak illegal goods into Rwanda," CIP Mukantagara said.

Early this year, a woman in Rubavu District gave a shocking testimony of how she would swim through Lake Kivu from DR. Congo to Rwanda with quantities of cannabis wrapped around her body. She had done this for almost a year, she said.

"Conduct your fishing business in a legal and responsive way, don't use it as an opportunity to engage in other criminal acts like facilitating criminals because you will also be arrested," he said, urging them to report either their members or anyone they suspect to be involved in illegal or criminal activities. 

On his part, Nsengiyumva warned them against using substandard fishing nets and netting immature fish.

In the past, the Police marine unit seized substandard fishing nets used by the fishermen.

In an effort to fight maritime, Rwanda National Police (RNP) also gave financial support to fishermen in Lake Kivu, which they used to buy a speed boat. 

The fishermen say the boat has played a big role both in rescue and fighting crimes in the lake.