The Police Week continued in the Eastern Province.

The Eastern Region Police spokesman, Senior Superintendant Benoit Nsengiyunva, while speaking during the launch said the fight against drugs will intensify among the youth.

"Some types of drugs like marijuana are becoming popular among students. This week aims at raising awareness against abusing drugs,” Nsengiyumva said.

At the national level, Police Week was launched on Monday, in Korongi District, Western Province.

Nsengiyumva  said the campaign would strengthen Community Policing Committees in districts.

"Most of the districts in this province have porous borders that make it difficult for us to fully address the issue of drugs that come in from neighbouring countries. We want the population therefore, to be vigilant enough to help the police,” he said.

The Police publicist added that another issue that will be addressed is the abuse of children, especially the girl child where the province ranks high in cases of defilement and rape.

He said police came up with stringent measures against the crimes and the focus was mainly on the youth participation.

"Despite the vigilance of all stakeholders, some children are still abused. We shall use this platform to lay strategies to check further abuse of any kind,” Nsengiyumva said.

The Mayor of Kirehe District, Protais Murayire, challenged parents to take the lead in this campaign in order  to guide their children to a better future.

Murayire urged the youth that there was no future in consuming drugs like narcotics and illicit brew.

He said the number of young people who abuse drugs, had risen, noting that the need for educational campaigns became imperative.

"Drugs lead to crimes like theft, fights, rape and defilement. So, all of us have a moral obligation to fight the vices,” he said.

A recent study that was conducted in 20 districts revealed that 52.5 per cent of the youth in Rwanda have at least once taken drugs, and 92.7 per cent of that population group kept on consuming them.