Police has arrested 81 people from across the country in connection with drug trafficking.A joint operation dubbed, Operation Hope was mounted under the auspice of Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO) and Interpol to deal with region’s suspected drug dealers and consumers. Addressing the media at Kicukiro Police Station, last week, the national police’s anti-narcotics unit director, Supt. Emmanuel Ngondo said that over 185kg of marijuana and over 806 litres of illicit liquor (kanyanga) were seized during the operation. One of the suspects, a 32-year old, says that he has been smugglimg marijuana for over one year from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “ I was arrested selling marijuana, I normally get it from Congo, Goma, we normally go there and bring with full knowledge it is illegal, I have been wrongly thinking that it is my right way to earn living. When I was arrested I had around 2,300 pellets weighing around 4kg,” Uwimana said, speaking from Police.National police spokesperson, Supt. Theos Badege, said the campaign is continuous and it will be carried out across the region.“It is a continuous programme, the campaign is regional, Interpol and EAPCCO have started the anti drug campaign, the message should reach all the Rwandans and they should become partners in the fight against drugs,”“Things should change and people should not be silent, report any drug abuse or sale.”Previous police reports have highlighted drugs as the major source of domestic violence, and a major obstacle to the country’s development process.
