Contraband worth about Rwf3.8 million was seized during various police operations conducted in the last one week in the districts of Burera and Rulindo The seized psychotropic substances include 7265 sachets of banned gin in different brand names, and over 800 litres of crude gin commonly known as Kanyanga. The gins are said to be having an alcoholic content way above the maximum recommended 45 percent. Article 24 of the law governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in Rwanda states that “any drink that exceeds forty five percent of alcohol and any other drink which doesnt have the required quality for consumption shall be considered as narcotic drug.” The contrabands were disposed of Wednesday in separate exercises that were witnessed by hundreds of residents. The public destruction exercise was also used as a platform for Police and local leaders in the two districts to sensitise residents against the vice. In Burera, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Vincent Kajeje, while addressing residents of Rusarabuye Sector where the destruction exercise was held, thanked them for playing a lead role in fighting drug related crimes and reporting dealers in particular. Burera is mapped as a major transit route due to its strategic location on the borderline, which facilitates drug traffickers to sneak in through porous borders. Last month, Police in Burera also seized illicit gin worth about Rwf1.5 million. In December last year, Police arrested about 160 drug dealers in Burera, who were at the time caught with 35016 sachets of contrabands and thousands of litres of a crude gin locally known as Kanyanga. Also in August last year, psychotropic substances including 1000 litres of kanyanga, worth over Rwf4 million were disposed of in Rusarabuye Sector in Burera before other narcotics valued at Rwf2.5 million were destroyed in October the same year. The increased seizure of drugs and arrest of dealers is attributed to increased awareness, operations and the effectiveness of community policing groups as well as the general public. CIP Kajeje warned that operations will continue and asked residents to continue their “responsiveness to give no room for drug dealers to roam in their criminal business.” Residents created an anti-drug club in at least each of the 21 sectors of Burera.
