Assorted narcotic drugs worth over Rwf16.7 million seized in various Rwanda National Police (RNP)-led operations in the City of Kigali, were disposed of on December 29 at Nduba landfill in Gasabo District.

The destroyed narcotics seized in last three months, include over 900 kilogrammes of cannabis, 3330 litres of locally made illicit brew, 446 litres of crude gin locally known as Kanyanga, fake or expired fertilisers, petroleum products including 2060 litres of diesel and 137 litres of petrol seized on the black market, among others.

The Police-led exercise falls under the ongoing nationwide campaign against drugs, which brings together different players including ministries of Health, Youth, Justice, Local Government, as well as Prosecution and National Rehabilitation Services (NRS), among others

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Emmanuel Bigenimana, while addressing residents of Nduba, who turned up to witness the destruction exercise as well as the campaign against drugs, commended the existing community policing efforts against the vice.

"These psychotropic substances are an obstacle especially to the youth development because they are the majority affected; therefore, we need to partner as leaders, parents and Rwandans in general to identify and report dealers to police to arrest them to protect the children but also to prevent other insecurities caused by drug abusers,” Bigenimana said.

He added that awareness campaigns will continue to sensitize people and the youth in particular, to venture their money in legal and profitable businesses rather than blowing their money in criminal activities.

According to the National Rehabilitation Services indicate that a total of 12228 addicted youth aged between 18 and 35 year, have so far been rehabilitated and equipped with vocational skills since 2012, with at least 90 of them completely healed and actively engaged in income generating activities.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Butera, the Commissioner for Operations and Public Order in RNP, warned that operations will continue to arrest every drugs dealer and to break chains of supply, and appealed to the general public to support and own the efforts.

"It’s a security, health and development issues that we should continue to work together and exchange information on dealers to arrest them,” CP Butera said.

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