The Police in Kisoro has arrested three people over allegedly possessing the National Bird, Crested Cranes.
Dan Iradukunda 22 a resident of Bunagana in Muramba Sub County, George Habyarimana 25, a resident of Gahiza in Buhozi parish Busanza Sub County and Hillary Tumushime, 28 a Boda Boda cyclist at Bunagana stage in Bunagana town board were arrested on Thursday afternoon while smuggling the three Crested Cranes to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Samuel Amanya, the Chief Warden Mughinga National Park, they have been receiving complaints of people trafficking Crested Cranes to Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kisoro District Police Commander Christopher Ruhunde says that the suspects are being held at Kisoro Police Station as investigations into the matter continue.
Meanwhile, Iradukunda and Habyarimana told police officers that they have been selling the crested cranes to a Congolese woman only identified as Eva at 150,000 shillings each.
Tumushiime on the other hand denied having knowledge about Crested Cranes trafficking saying that he was only hired by Iradukunda and Habyarimana to ride them to the border at Busanza
