Over 400 kilogrammes of cannabis and 600 sachets of illicit gin were destroyed in Rubavu District, yesterday, as the district stepped up public awareness against the vice, which is rated high among the youth.

The public destruction of the contraband held in Umuganda cell of Gisenyi sector was witnessed by local leaders and thousands of students from various schools in the district.

The narcotics and illicit gin were confiscated in the last three months in the district.

Rubavu is one of the districts with the highest cases of drug trade, especially cannabis, which is said to be trafficked into the district from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo through porous borders.

CSP Francis Gahima, the Western Region Police spokesperson warned of "severe consequences” to anyone caught dealing in the illicit drug.

"We have put in place stringent measures to break the supply chain and arrest the suppliers and we have been able to arrest most of them,” Gahima said without specifying the number of those arrested.

"The campaign to arrest others still involved in selling and consuming these drugs is ongoing,” he added.

He urged the youth to concentrate on their studies, adding that consumption of narcotics and illicit brew might affect their performance, lure girls into unwanted pregnancies and lead to school drop-out.

Drug abuse is said to be the engine of other crimes like theft, assault and domestic violence.

Gahima said fighting drug abuse is one of the priorities of Rwanda National Police.

He appealed to the public to always report those involved in such illegal tendencies, to help combat the vice.