Rwanda National Police

Separate Police operations against drug trafficking conducted on Friday in Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe and Muhanga districts led to the arrest of three suspected drug traffickers.

The suspects identified as Olive Nyiranshimiyimana, 22, Fortunée Mukampazimpaka, 30, and Emmanuel Uwimana, 26, were arrested with varied quantities of cannabis.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Nyiranshimiyimana and Mukampazimpaka belong to the same drug trafficking ring supplying in Huye District while Uwimana is said to be a distributor in Muhanga.

“Police, acting on credible information, first arrested Mukampazimpaka at a checkpoint mounted in Nyamasheke where she was identified among passengers in a public bus which was headed to Huye," said CIP Twajamahoro.

He added: "When Police officers searched Mukampazimpaka they recovered about 3kgs wrapped around her border beneath her clothes."

"Mukampazimpaka was cooperative, she said she was delivering the narcotics to a retailer in Huye. She also disclosed that her accomplice (Nyiranshimiyimana) was traveling ahead in another public vehicle with another consignment of narcotics. Nyiranshimiyimana was tracked and arrested with 5kgs as she reached Nyamagabe."

It is suspected that the two women were delivering the narcotics to one only identified as Nshimiye, in Huye.

Other quantities of cannabis were recovered in the house of Uwimana in Muhanga District.

“Uwimana was also reported by residents as the distributor in various parts of Muhanga, and indeed when Police officers searched his house during the operation they recovered some quantities which he was yet to supply," said CIP Twajamahoro.

He also thanked residents for their responsiveness in fighting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through information sharing with the Police.

“Even if you suspect someone to be a drug dealer alert the Police to authenticate the information because drug dealers tend to apply different tricks to avoid being identified," said the spokesperson.

Article 263 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general in Rwanda, stipulates that, any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offense, with a sentence ranging between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.