An Interpol-backed operation against cross-border and transnational crimes dubbed ‘Usalama III’ conducted late last month in different parts of the country led to the impounding of   items worth US$11, 805 (approx. Rwf8 million), according to a report released by Rwanda National Police (RNP) yesterday.

The items included stolen electric materials and illegal fishing nets.

Usalama, meaning safety, is a regional operation conducted every year simultaneously in 28 Eastern and Southern Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisations (EAPCCO and SARPCCO) member states against high impact crimes, including trafficking human beings, smuggling, narcotic drugs and motor vehicle theft.

It also targets environmental related crimes (wildlife crimes, illegal logging and fishing), theft of copper cables and other metals, smuggling of minerals, proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, terrorism and tracking fugitives.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Tony Kuramba, commissioner for Interpol in Rwanda National Police, while addressing journalists about the operation conducted between June 29 and 30, said that illicit drugs valued at US73, 515 included 17, 851kgs of cannabis, 48, 023 litres of locally made illicit brew, 5, 787 litres of illicit gin and 44 pellets of heroin.

The operation also seized illegal fishing nets worth Rwf4 million, 10 kilogrammes of smuggled coltan, 651 metres and 5.5 tonnes of copper cables and pylons valued at over Rwf17 million either stolen from Rwanda Energy Group stores or stolen after vandalising electricity infrastructures causing load-shedding in some parts of the country, according to the report.

"Environmental related crimes are not so common in Rwanda especially due to the national policies that also support and empower communities residing next to natural reserves to fight any acts that affect the ecosystem,” said ACP Kuramba.

Police spokesperson, ACP Celestin Twahirwa said that a total of 93 people were arrested in connection with the acts during the operation.

At least 62 of the suspects were arrested over trafficking, distilling and selling narcotic substances; 27 were arrested over destruction and theft of electrical infrastructures; 19 were apprehended after they were found in possession of pellets of heroin while three other suspects are being investigated over human trafficking.

 "The operation also maximised the use of the Interpol global communication tool – I-24/7 which is now connected at all border posts through which 160,000 Rwandan registered vehicles were verified using the Customs’ vehicle registration data of which 18 of them were detected to be stolen and will be recalled for further investigations,” ACP Twahirwa added.

"We appeal to people to utilise the Customs’ vehicle registration data to verify and to avoid buying stolen vehicles.”

Stanley Nkubito, the head of Energy Efficiency and Revenue Protection in Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL), called upon Rwandans to utilise and jealously protect public infrastructures.

"When one electricity tower is destroyed, the effect is massive and will cause load shedding across the country and ultimately it affects security, productivity and it becomes costly in terms of repairing the affected power-lines,” Nkubito said.

Nkubito also cautioned people, who use lay people in electricity connections, substandard cables and electric installations which he said are likely to cause short circuits and fire outbreaks.

"People should as well not allow welding machines to be connected to their electricity in the house because these machines have no ratings and have the capacity far beyond installations in the house, and this is one of the causes of fire breakouts,” said Nkubito.

The operation was conducted in partnership with other national stakeholders, including Immigrations, Customs, Rwanda Energy Group, mining authorities and the ministries of Natural Resources and Commerce.

Operation Usalama III followed a meeting held in Maputo, Mozambique between May 26 and 27, 2016 and unanimously agreed to conduct the two-day operation against cross-border and transnational crimes.

It also follows other two similar operations conducted in 2013 and 2015 in accordance with the resolutions of SARPCCO extraordinary meeting of September 5, 2012 in Zanzibar calling on the chairpersons of the two regions to work together and come up with modalities of cooperation to counter transnational crimes.

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