Over the past six months, law enforcement operations in the City of Kigali have seized more than 2.2 tonnes and 5,000 pellets of cannabis, 278 litres of Kanyanga and other brands of illicit gin and brew.
On October 23, Police in Rwamagana District arrested a 34-year-old man after recovering 30kgs of cannabis in his house.
Similar operations conducted on October 29, Police intercepted a vehicle in Rusagara, Gakenke District transporting 40 bales of smuggled used clothes. Two people were taken into custody over fraud and smuggling. This came a few days after impounding another vehicle in the same district loaded with 33 bales of smuggled clothes.
Equally, separate Police operations conducted on October 10, in Kigali also seized 24 bales of smuggled clothes, impounded a vehicle used by smugglers and took one suspect into custody.
Another moto-taxi operator suspected of facilitating smugglers and drug traffickers was arrested on October 31, in Kaborora Village, Rugerero Cell, Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District with 291 pieces of outlawed skin whitening cosmetics, assorted food ingredients and petroleum products.
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, said: “Police in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, law leaders and the public, have stepped up efforts against smuggling and drug trafficking. Most of the goods and narcotic drugs are sneaked into Rwanda from DR Congo and other neighbouring countries, through illegal border points. This also amounts to illegal cross-border trade, which can be a source of other crimes like people and groups that would utilize it to harm Rwandans.”
He added that many drug trafficking and smuggling rackets have been dismantled and many of its members arrested.
“The ongoing operations against high impact crimes also target rings involved in cattle theft, including thieves, those who slaughter them in the bush, transporters and owners of meat shops, who buy them hence fueling these thefts and other related criminal practices like violent theft and murder. The same goes for those engaged in electronic theft and vandalism of public infrastructure such as electricity and water lines, and telecom networks,” ACP Rutikanga said.
Between July and September, this year, Police arrested 63 people said to be behind a series of cattle theft in the Eastern districts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo and Kayonza. 17 out of 25 cows reported stolen in the three districts, were also recovered. (End)