Police in Bugesera distrct has arrested 24 people suspected of drug trafficking and abuse and some behind a string of theft incidences.
They were arrested on Wednesday in an operation conducted in Nyabivumu cell of Nyamata sector. They are now detained at Nyamata police station.
The operation came barely a week after more than 120 other were also apprehended in the district.
Rwanda National Police initiated the idea of mapping, which helps to identify crime vulnerable areas, people involved, with the help of the public through a community policing strategy, which has helped further to bleed safety in communities.
Bugesera District Police Commander, Supt. Athanase Nshuti said they conduct daily operations targeting loiterers and other suspected criminals, especially based on the information provided by the public.
“Most of the loiterers are drug consumers, which also lures them into other criminal acts like theft and assault,” Supt. Nshuti said.
“Sometimes, at night, they disconnect electricity in houses and break-in, steal electric cables or involve in other criminal acts like rape and defilement,” he added.
On the issue of Burundians, who are among those arrested in such swoops, he said most of them come into the district through illegal borders and with no legal documents that allows them into the country.
“We arrest them and hand them over to immigration and authorities in Burundi. We normally hold meetings with officials from neighboring parts of Burundi and this has also helped to fight crimes jointly, which has led to the reduction of crimes,” he explained.
Supt. Christopher Semuhungu, the Eastern region police spokesperson, reiterated that the public are their major players in the crime prevention adding that “they have owned this campaign.”
“They [public] now know what to do and that’s why at least everyday a certain number of suspected criminals are arrested and some stolen goods recovered,” Supt. Semuhungu said.
Judith Uwamahoro, a resident of Bugesera also implored Rwandans not to leave this campaign to security organs alone because “at the end of the day we are either losers or beneficiaries.”
“What police or any other security organ or local authorities do is for our own good; so why can’t we be major players in what is ours,” Uwamahoro wondered.
RNP
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