Rwanda, Qatar in joint bid to fight drug trafficking

Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Qatari Ministry of Internal Affairs on Tuesday signed a Letter of Intent, committing to collectively fight against the trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
ACP Tony Kuramba (L), Commissioner for INTERPOL at RNP and the Director of Anti-Narcotics General Administration at the Qatari Ministry of Internal Affairs, Brigadier Ahmed Khalifa al-Kuwari, signing the pact. (Courtesy)

Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the Qatari Ministry of Internal Affairs on Tuesday signed a Letter of Intent, committing to collectively fight against the trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances.

The letter was signed by the ACP Tony Kuramba, the Commissioner for Interpol at RNP and the Director of Anti-Narcotics General Administration at the Qatari Ministry of Internal Affairs, Brigadier Ahmed Khalifa al-Kuwari. It was signed on the sidelines of the first Qatar International Anti-Drug Forum, which opened at Sheraton Doha Hotel on May 25, according to RNP. The forum was held under the theme "international experiences in the detection of trafficking routes and itineraries and methods of concealment" and was opened by the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani.  ACP Kuramba joined international figures in the anti-drug trafficking field and delegates from over 22 countries and regional and international bodies and organizations in the two-day forum.  The forum aims at promoting cooperation and coordination among all world countries in order to exchange experiences and information related to the latest methods of concealment and the detection of trafficking routes, and the support of all international efforts in the areas of addressing drug crimes.  Rwanda National Police runs an anti-drug national strategy which absorbed all the dimensions of the drug problem and its multiple dangers in accordance with building a modern state of security, prosperity and stability for people living in Rwanda. Through partnerships with neighboring countries and police institutions throughout the world, RNP has efficiently ensured that Rwanda is neither a destination nor a transit for dangerous narcotics like cocaine and heroin. At least 10 suspected drug traffickers have been arrested either trafficking hardcore drugs into the country or using Rwanda as a transit route, since August last year.