Public cautioned against illicit liquor

BUGESERA - Rwanda National Police (RNP) and local leaders have issued stern warning to the public, over production and consumption of illicit alcohol locally known as Kanyanga. The warning came after security officials discovered an undercover distillery in Bugesera district, over the weekend. Police spokesman, Superintendent Theos Badege told The New Times yesterday that it was high time communities got rid of the brew. He said that all accomplices will be brought to book, adding that there is no way such plant could have been established, without the knowledge of grass root leaders. “We are going to use this GBV week to sensitize the public against Kanyanga. Local leaders and the community must be careful…,” he said. According to the Eastern Province Regional Police Commander (RPC), Assistant Commissioner of Police Sam Karemera, illicit alcohol is responsible for series of crimes. He said that the Province had devised new ways of decreasing the use of Kanyanga at the cell level. “There were cases of murder recently in Bugesera…the suspects committed the crime under the influence of illicit alcohol. Our vigilance will not spare anyone involved,” he said. Mayor Louis Rwagaju said that local leaders have the obligation to work with the police, to bring to book the culprits. He said that some people were taking advantage of their location from authorities to even plant marijuana. He said that the district has mapped of all sources of Kanyanga and has list of all suspects. “Someone convinced that he won’t be discovered, planted marijuana under cover of sorghum. Others produced Kanyanga in remote banana plantations…there are obvious accomplices. We shall get them one by one. The illicit alcohol has been marked down, as one of the leading causes of gender based violence in most Eastern Province. Ends