Rwanda National Police (RNP) joined residents of Gakenke District during Umuganda (community work) on Saturday which was focused on environmental protection and anti-drug abuse activities.

Shortly after the Umuganda exercise in which at least 3,000 trees were planted in Kageyo Village, Rusagara Cell in Gakenke Sector, and 11 hectares of terraces constructed, hundreds of residents gathered to witness the public destruction of illicit drugs seized in various operations.

The destroyed narcotic drugs valued at about Rwf900,000 and included banned illicit gin (Kanyanga and Blue Sky).

The activities were attended by the district vice mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Catherine Uwimana, Commissioner for Logistics in RNP, Assistant Commissioner of Police David Butare, and the District Police Commander, Chief Inspector of Police Jean Bosco Minani, among others.

About 112 households were also given heifers under the government One-Cow-Per-Household programme.

The vice mayor appealed to the beneficiaries of the heifers to take good care of them to better their lives.

She said, as the government strives to further improve their wellbeing, they should as well be at the centre of fighting anything that can affect their development, including drug abuse which she said has wrecked families while children have become addicts and engage in other criminal activities, like theft after dropping out of school.

CIP Minani, on his part, thanked the residents for their partnership through community policing and timely information sharing, which led to the seizure of the poured illicit gin in the last one month.

"We need to build on that and create a firm bond that can’t be easily broken by drug traffickers, makers, sellers and abusers of drugs,” he told the residents.

He urged them to work with the Police as agents of safety and security in their communities.

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