{The Rwanda National Police awareness against trafficking and abuse of drugs has continued to reap more tangible results in different parts of the country as residents continue to report drug dealers and abusers, leading to their arrest and seizure of illicit substances.
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Just two days after police in Nyabihu District seized and destroyed a lot of illicit substances , Burera residents have also stepped in to reignite the fight against drug abuse in the district.
On Wednesday January 6, over 3000 residents of Burera converged in three separate sites – Rusarabuye, Kidaho and Bungwe sectors – to witness the public destruction and awareness against drug abuse.
The destroyed drugs, all banned gin valued at over Rwf30 million include 4931 litres of Kanyanga, 7678 dozens of Blue Sky and 2306 dozens of Hot Waragi.
Others include 507 dozens of Chief waragi, 110 dozens of Kitoko, 250 dozens of Coffee Spirit, 145 dozens of Simba and 81 dozens of Zebra.
The destroyed banned gins were seized in varied residents’-backed police operations conducted in the last three months.
While speaking to about 1500 people, who converged in Rusarabuye Sector, Burera vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Marie Florence Uwambaje said this is a “big achievement” in fighting drug abuse, which the residents should celebrate.
“These illicit drinks were seized because of your partnership with police and showing them the dealers and where they are sold, and the routes drug traffickers use, which facilitated successful operations,” Uwambaje said.
“As we celebrate, you should also remember that these illicit substances which have impact on the health of users and continue to fuel conflicts in families, still exist as we have witnessed today. You should therefore strengthen the partnership with police to identify those other people who still traffic, sell and abuse these drugs,” she added.
One of the residents, Luis Figo Duhimbazimana also had a message for drug dealers.
“Any wise person should distance themselves from anything to do with drugs. Men and women have been arrested and their children are the ones suffering. There’s nothing good apart from sleepless nights of fear, imprisonment and misuse of family finances in criminal businesses that leads to losses,” Duhimbazimana said.
Inspector of Police (IP) Justin Kajeje, the District Community Liaison Officer thanked the residents for their partnership with police in identifying, fighting and preventing crimes such as drug abuse, domestic and gender based violence, among others.
He warned drug dealers and abusers adding that operations against drug abuse will continue.
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