Merely a day after Rwanda National Police (RNP) paraded 42 people arrested in drug related crimes in the Eastern Province, the force has paraded 15 others apprehended in the Northern region in connection with similar crimes of either trafficking, making, selling or using narcotic and illicit drugs.
The paraded suspects were arrested in a space of one month with with illicit substances worth over Rwf8.8 million.
The drugs recovered from the suspects are contraband gin of different types banned in Rwanda and other illicit substances, which include khat commonly known as Miraa, 300 liters of Kanyanga, 362 pellets of cannabis and 100 cartons of chief waragi.
All the suspects confessed to knowing that they were trafficking illegal substances at a time they were apprehended.
“I was transporting 20 litres of illicit gin by the time I was arrested. I had acquired it from a person called Kitamburaza who usually trafficked it from Uganda, but he is not the only person doing this illegal business, there are many others,” said one of the suspects, Deogratius Ruterana.
He added that; “I am very ashamed of my action and I ask for leniency.”
Another suspect only identified as Ntezimana said, “I am a commercial cyclist, a woman hired me to take a lugguage and in the process police stopped me and found me with khat. I know it’s an illegal substance and I am never going to involve myself in such illegal dealings.”
Addressing the press, Deputy Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID), ACP Morris Muligo said that police has intensified its fight against drug abuse and consumption of illicit substance.
“Most offenders commit crimes while under influence of substances like these ones, this is why we are addressing this matter from the roots – we want to eliminate drug consumption with an aim of reducing crime rates,” said ACP Muligo.
Earlier, police in Kayonza District had presented to journalists seized substances that included 705 kilograms of cannabis, 62 jerrycans of Kanyanga and over 100 carton of chief waragi.
Police operations to crackdown on illicit drugs will continue countrywide to ensure abuse and trafficking of drugs is curtailed.
ACP Muligo said that most suspects are arrested as a result of strong police-public partnership through community policing, and called upon the general population to continue the spirit by reporting suspected criminals.
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