The western province has been recording numerous cases of cross border crimes especially narcotic drugs, the common ones include cannabis and Sky Blue, a banned gin, trafficked from the neighboring countries.
Owing to the fact that Rwanda National Police (RNP) has prioritized fighting drug abuse among the crime areas of immediate response, the region has also adopted stringent measures as part of the drive to combat crime.
Most drugs registered in Rwanda are cannabis and illicit brews locally known as muriture, kanyanga, bareteta, and ibikwangari, all which are said to be containing life threatening content.
Some of these psychotropic substances are made out of mixed water, sugar, tea and sugarcane residues.
According to the Western Region Police Commander (RPC), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bertin Mutezintare, each district in the region has its “exclusivity” when it comes to drugs.
“Mechanisms to fight them differ depending on the district and the type of psychotropic substances that are found there,” said ACP Mutezintare.
“We have different mechanisms in place to arrest drug traffickers and seize narcotics, among those include intelligence-led and targeted operations, check points and joint operations with local leaders and members of community policing committee,” said the RPC.
“Most of cannabis is seized on Mukamira-Ngororero Muhanga road and Rubavu-Musanze-Kigali roads while other substances like Blue sky are smuggled into the country through Burera borderline; some of it are destined here in the region and in some cases this is uses as a route to Goma in DRC,” he explained.
Most locally distilled brew and other illegal alcoholic substances, he said, are common in the Ngororero, Rutsiro, Nyamasheke and Karongi districts.
A case in point, on June 4, in Bwishyura Sector of Karongi, police seized and poured close to 1000 liters of illicit brew commonly knows ibikwangari in an operation that led to the arrest of two alleged distillers.
“Anti-crime clubs, local leaders, CPCs, Irondo (community night patrols) and youth volunteers in community policing have all played significant roles in this campaign by sensitising, identifying and reporting dealers and abusers and this is why it’s now very easy to know and arrest dealers.”
“By combating the vice, we have also been able to deal with cases of domestic violence, assault, theft and rape, which they influence as well.”
“Community policing is playing a crucial role in crime detection, fighting and prevention. There’s increased collaboration and cooperation between police and the people through information sharing, which we commend for the improved safety and security in the region, like in other parts of the country.”
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