Gihanga : three police officers arrested in possession of fraudulent goods

Three police officers in a vehicle were arrested and goods in their possession seized by their colleagues. They only stopped the car after warning shots were fired this Sunday evening on the 1st avenue of Kagwema village in Gihanga district in Bubanza province (western Burundi). Residents welcome the arrest of these police officers and demand that they be severely punished. The provincial police commissioner in Cibitoke where these police officers are incarcerated has so far refused to comment. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Known for their practice of smuggling, three police officers in a vehicle were apprehended by other police officers located on the 1st avenue of Kagwema, bordering Cibitoke province (northwest).

According to various security sources, “it was on information that these police officers who had lost all ethical standards were arrested.”

The same sources indicate that these police officers in possession of several loincloths, liquors and champagne from the DRC were arrested after several shots with automatic weapons from their colleagues posted all along the RN5 Bujumbura-Rugombo Road.

“They refused to stop at the Nyamitanga barrier and their vehicle drove straight towards Bujumbura municipality. That’s when we opened fire on them and we set off in pursuit,” explains a police officer who actively participated in this operation.

Another agent recalls “an operation which lasted half an hour where several shots were fired before these three police officers surrendered”.

As a judicial police officer explains, these police officers are under interrogation at the provincial police station in Cibitoke where they are incarcerated.

Residents interviewed welcome the arrest of these police officers who were involved in illegal cross-border trafficking of different types of goods between the DRC and Burundi.

They demand “severe sanctions in accordance with the law against these police officers who carried out this illegal trade”.

The provincial police commissioner in Cibitoke confirmed the incident, but refused to comment on the matter, only specifying that those police officers are based in the Bujumbura provincial police station (commercial capital), and that their case is the justice hands.