Gakenke: Police in Gakenke District, on April 19, arrested a man identified as Ayishakiye Theoneste for allegedly trafficking plastic bags into the country.Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that Ahishakiye was intercepted along Musanze-Gakenke highway with 34200 pieces of non-biodegradable bags concealed in boxes.
He was at the time transporting them on a motorcycle RC 824R, which was also impounded, CIP Rugigana said. “He was going to Gakenke town, where he sells these banned plastic bags.”
“For the last few weeks, Police in the Northern region has been actively engaged in campaigns and operations against plastic bags and smuggling through which a number of people have been arrested based on credible information we get from the people,” he said.
“On this particular case, in the morning hours of Friday, Police in Gakenke received information that Ahishakiye, who had been identified as one of the traffickers and dealer in plastic bags, had left to Musanze to bring more plastic bags, he was trailed and was arrested red-handed,” the spokesperson explained.
Rugigana said they are still searching for other people that Ahishakiye works with to sneak the banned polythene bags into the country from the neighboring countries using porous borders especially in Burera and Gicumbi districts.
He called for continued cooperation and ownership against such products, which pose threat to the ecosystem.
Use of plastic bags was prohibited in 2008. From then, several mechanisms including legal provisions against producers, sellers and users of plastic bags, have been adopted. (End)