GICUMBI – Police in Gicumbi District on Monday set ablaze an assortment of illegal local brew and marijuana which was confiscated from smugglers.

Police said the items were impounded from different sectors of the district, after being smuggled through illegal entry points from neighboring countries. 

The liquor branded under different names included 28 litres of Sunny gin, 82 litres of Coffee gin, 61 litres of Suzie gin, 89 litres of crude waragi (Kanyanga) and 71 marijuana stems.

Addressing local leaders who turned up to witness the burning exercise, the district Police Commander (DPC) Supt. Jean de Dieu Gashiramanga urged them to always report dealers in illegal brew and drugs.

"These banned  alcoholic drinks are hazardous to human health, which is why you should cooperate with security organs to apprehend those people who smuggle them into the country,” said Gashiramanga.

He warned local leaders against condoning and participating in illegal brew trade.

Gicumbi and Rulindo districts’ Prosecutor, Vincent Niyonzima, reminded local leaders of their role of sensitising residents to desist from consuming illegal brew, which he said poses a high security problem. 

"Majority of domestic violence cases reported are attributed to consumption of these illicit alcoholic drinks, which is actually a security threat,” he said.

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