Rwanda National Police publicly destroyed 1.6 tonnes of cannabis in Musaza Sector, Kirehe District, on 22 July 2015, before hundreds of residents, local leaders, security personnel and a prosecution representative.[1] The drugs had been seized in operations across the Kirehe, Kigarama, Musaza, Gahara and Gatore sectors since January that year.[1]

Eastern Province police spokesperson Emmanuel Kayigi said 137 dealers, including 15 women, had been arrested during the six months of operations, most of them aged below 40.[1] Police said Kirehe is among the districts with the most drug cases because cannabis is smuggled in through porous borders, and that at least 74 per cent of narcotics trafficked into Rwanda pass through the district.[1]

Kirehe mayor Gerard Muzungu called the destruction a strong warning against drug abuse, while District Police Commander Christian Safari said the public exercise showed dealers what awaited them and was meant to build residents’ trust.[1]