Separate Police operations against drug traffickers in Rusizi District over the past two years, seized 14000kgs of cannabis.
The narcotics were disposed of on Tuesday, August 22, in a public exercise held in Kamembe Sector, Cyangugu Cell, Karambo Village.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the successful operations were largely facilitated by the public through information exchange.
“The 14000kgs of cannabis disposed of on Tuesday were seized from different traffickers and local dealers, mainly in Rusizi District in operations conducted over the past two years. Some narcotics were being transported by taxi-moto operators and public vehicles along Rusizi-Kigali highway. Others were being transported on bicycles as well as traffickers who were attempting to sneak big quantities of cannabis into Rwanda from DR Congo through Lake Kivu and other porous border points,” said SP Karekezi.
He added that many drug dealers as well as motorists and cyclists, who facilitate the dealers, were also arrested in the process with some of them serving their sentences while others are still under investigations.
SP Karekezi said that the public destruction of cannabis in Rusizi also provided an opportunity to sensitize motorcyclists, cyclists and the youth in particular on dangers of dealing and using drugs, both health and legal repercussions,” SP Karekezi said.
Cannabis is listed among very severe drugs under the Ministerial order n? 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation.
The penalty for dealing in very severe drugs, under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general ranges between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of Frw20 million to Frw30 million.
The spokesperson commended the role of the public in fighting criminality and drug related crimes in particular, and called for strengthened partnership and sharing of information on drug dealers. (End)