Thirty Police officers on Friday concluded a four-day training on anti-counterfeit and pharmaceutical crimes.

Participants were drawn from the newly created ant- graft unit – Anti-Counterfeit and Illegal Pharmaceutical Unit – that operate under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the ministries of, Health, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Standards Bureau, and National Pharmacy Council, among others.

While closing the training, the Commissioner for Police Reserve Force, CP Cyprien Gatete, called for collaborative efforts between police, local and international organizations in identifying and fighting counterfeits and fake pharmaceutical products.

"Each country or continent, however big, cannot solely fight contemporary crimes alone; we need to network, cooperate and form synergies to counter such crimes,” CP Gatete said.

He added that Rwanda is at the forefront of fighting such crimes.

"We want to make Rwanda a crime-free country particularly such as these crimes.”

"I believe the knowledge you have acquired here will enable you to fight this crime. This is just the beginning of such training, the knowledge you have acquired should guide you in furthering your research so that you can catch up with the way modern crimes are handled,” CP Gatete said.

The training that was organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP)in partnership with the international police organization – Interpol.

The establishment of the specialised 'Anti-Counterfeit and Illegal Pharmaceutical Unit' in February this year was meant to respond effectively to curb such crimes.

Interpol’s Assistant Director for Trafficking in Illicit Goods and Counterfeiting unit, Michael Ellis, congratulated the trainees upon completion of the course adding that Interpol was willing to cooperate with RNP in conducting more training.

"I am particularly happy that Rwanda National Police asked for this workshop and Interpol is happy to be a partner.  During the training, I was very impressed by the professionalism of the officers. This is just the beginning, we will continue these engagements from Rwanda and the Interpol Headquarters,” Michael said.