27 arrested in narcotics crackdown

As the campaign against drug abuse intensifies, Police, this weekend, arrested 27 people believed to be part of a ring that trades or consumes marijuana in Kigali.The gang, which includes three women, was arrested separately in a week-long swoop conducted in various city suburbs.The majority of the suspects, who are currently held at Remera Police Station, are youth, aged between 20 and 27 years.Most of those who spoke to The New Times admitted dealing in this criminal act.“I have been doing this [selling marijuana] for the last two months, but there is a big group which sneaks these drugs into the country and supplies us, the retailers,” admitted one Emmanuel Hakizimana.“I am willing to work with Police to have all these dealers arrested,” Hakizimana, a Kiyovu resident added.Another suspect, Euphrasie Uwanyirigira, a mother of four from Muhima, admitted to the offense, but said she was introduced to the illegal business by a friend, whose whereabouts she says she does not know. “I was forced to engage in this [illegal] business because I wanted to raise school fees for my children, and I saw this as good business to raise money as quickly as possible,” she added. Samuel Nyabyenda, 22, claimed that he was arrested on his first day in the illegal trade after conscription by a friend.“I know many people, including women, bring drugs to Kigali from Kirehe and Rubavu districts. They pretend to be dealing in petty businesses, but most of their customers are marijuana smokers. They use those petty businesses to cover up their acts,” added Nyabyenda.Chief Supt. Rogers Rutikanga, Regional Police Commander-Kigali Central, explained that the anti-narcotics campaign “is paying off because the public is now playing a major role by providing us with information of the dealers. This has led to a general reduction in drug abuse.”“We are now investigating the whole chain of the major suppliers; it is just a matter of time because we have so far identified major smuggling areas, most of them in districts bordering neighbouring countries,” Rutikanga added.The anti-narcotics campaign, which started last year, is also ongoing in schools.Drug abuse has topped the crime list over the last three years, despite a steady decline in the recent past.Last month, over 30 suspected drug dealers were also arrested in Kigali and more than 10 kilogrammes of the narcotic also confiscated.Last year, 2,720 cases were registered and over two million kilogrammes of marijuana and 1.2 million litres of illegal brew seized.3,157 people were also arrested in connection with the crimes.In 2010, over 1,500 were also arrested with over 990 of them accused of either trading or consuming marijuana.563,948 kilogrammes of marijuana and 4,274 litres of illegal brew (locally known as Kanyanga) were confiscated and destroyed in 2010.According to Chief Supt. Rutikanga, marijuana is brought to Kigali from mainly the districts of Kirehe and Rubavu, and brought into the country from neighbouring countries.

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27 arrested in narcotics crackdown