10 poachers, drug dealers arrested

KAYONZA - About 10 suspected poachers and drug dealers were on Wednesday arrested in the sectors of Rukara, Murindi and Mwiri in Kayonza District. The suspects, who were paraded before the media, were found in possession of hundreds of litres of illicit brew (locally known as kanyanga), several kilograms of Marijuana and other prohibited brews such as Suzu and Chief Waragi. The poachers carried skulls of animals from Akagera Park, spears, machetes, torches and other tools they used to trap and kill the animals. Confirming the arrests, police spokesman Superintendent Eric Kayiranga, told The New Times that scores of people had been arrested, after smuggling drugs and illicit alcohol from neighbouring countries. He said the police would not cease to hunt down such people, whose activities affect the entire society. “We have wrong characters carrying drugs to the remote areas of Kayonza. Kanyanga, marijuana and many others are responsible for the crimes in the area. Dealers should however, know that the law is not on their side,” he said.Petero Nzabonimana, a dealer and trafficker of marijuana and kanyanga, said he was convinced by his friend that he would make a lot of quick money. He said he never expected to be arrested and vowed never to do it again if forgiven.“It is unfortunate that the person who lured me into the business was smart enough to escape, leaving me behind,” he said. Stephen Nabimanya, 35, a resident of Kempene, Rubare in Uganda, who was caught poaching in the Akagera National Park, admitted he had been poaching for many years.He said he came to Rwanda after his Rwandan friend had invited him to bring his skills to carry out poaching in the Park. “I used to hunt animals in my home area in Uganda, but there are no more animals left. We use dogs and powerful torches to catch animals in the dark, sell the meat and obtain money,” he said. Ends