Police in Nyabihu District have warned the public against making, trafficking and using narcotic drugs.

The warning followed various police operations in which narcotic drugs and banned liquor under different brand names were seized.

They include 225, 135 sachets of banned Sky Blue gin, 137 kilogrammes of cannabis, 70 litres of Kanyanga and 85 bottles of another illicit drink called kalgazoke,

During the public destruction of the seized drugs valued at over Rwf60 million over the weekend in Mukamira Sector, the Nyabihu district mayor, Abdoulatif Twahirwa thanked Rwanda National Police for empowering the people to ensure their own safety, which led to the seizure of the destroyed drugs.

He reminded the residents to work with police to identify and arrest all those still involved in such criminal activities, which he said fuel other crimes.

The District Police Commander, Supt. Alex Fata also urged the residents to report all those involved.

He further warned that campaigns and operations against such criminal acts will continue, adding that "there should be no mercy to defiant people.”

"By allowing people to sell and abuse such illicit substances, you will be promoting theft, domestic and gender based violence and assault among others, which threaten your community safety and well-being,” Supt. Fata told hundreds of residents, who included students in holidays, commercial moto-taxi operators and cyclists.

"If you choose to say NO to drug abuse and report those involved, you will be saving your children from becoming victims, promoting safety and building a crime-free generation, especially because the youth are the majority victims,” he added.

He urged the public to act as community policing agents, partner with police and utilise police communication tools to report any wrongdoing.