As the campaign against the use and distribution of narcotics intensifies across the country, authorities have enlisted the assistance of former drug traffickers and users to help fight the vice.The former traffickers and users, mainly the youth, believe that nothing good can be got from the trade or consumption of narcotics and illicit brew apart from being involved in other crimes like theft and assault thus shutting one’s doors to a better future.On Thursday, hundreds of people gathered at Kirehe District at the launch of the campaign against drug abuse and illicit brew in the country, where former users and sellers gave testimonies.The campaign is part of the ongoing activities to mark the 13th anniversary of Rwanda National Police which started on June 11 under the theme “Police-Public Partnership for Sustainable Security.”Evariste Bigirimana one of the former drug dealers, gave a testimony of his previous illegal business saying he had turned wild, spending days and nights in hiding and living an isolated life. “I had lost hope,” he said.After abandoning the illegal business, Bigirimana said, he has since secured a short-term loan from the bank to start a small income generating activity.He urged the youth not to fall prey of these criminal enterprises and not to entertain those that want to lure them into these by reporting them to concerned authorities.Bishop Alex Birindabagabo of Gahini Anglican Diocese, who heads the National Commission for the Fight against Drugs, equated drug abuse to poison. “We can’t afford to lose the young generation to drugs,” the cleric said, calling for intensive measures to fight the problem. “Fighting drug abuse is everyone’s responsibility. If we put our hands together, it is possible to make drug-related crimes history in Rwanda,” he said.Odette Uwamariya, the Governor of the Eastern Province, thanked the unique partnership between Rwanda National Police and the province in fighting and preventing crimes in the area.She said the Police Week has played a lot in bringing Rwandans together towards a common cause and appealed to road users to also respect traffic rules to avoid accidents.The exercise started with a procession against drug abuse and also included parading five people, who include two women, who were arrested in Kirehe recently with about 90 kilogrammes of cannabis.It is said that drugs and illicit brew that circulate in the country are sneaked through porous borders from neighbouring countries.
