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Rwanda National Police

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Anti-Narcotics Unit tightens grip on major drug dealers

Fighting drug related crimes and breaking chains of supply in particular is one of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) key areas to fight lawlessness and further improve safety and security in the country.

As such, the RNP Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) has tightened its grip on individuals and groups suspected to be major drug dealers or operating chains of supply.

On January 9, ANU arrested two people in Rubavu District, Kanama Sector in Mohoko Cell with 1,002 rolls of cannabis.

Two other suspected major drug dealers were arrested on January 11, in Gikombe also in Rubavu District with 2,600 pellets of cannabis.

Again on January 13, ANU arrested a couple in Rwaza, Rugerero Sector in Rubavu with 2840 rolls of cannabis.

In the latest ANU separate operations conducted in Rubavu and Burera districts on January 15th and 16th, three suspected major drug dealers were also arrested in the process with 10kgs and 1200 pellets of cannabis.

Burera District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police (SP) Aphrodis Nkundineza said that these are targeted operations facilitated by credible information provided by the people in communities.

“We had information that one Daniel Haragirimana is a major drug dealer supplied by other dealers from Uganda through porous border points. He was being trailed until he was arrested on January 16, in Kagano Village, Gabiro Cell of Gatebe Sector in Burera alongside Innocent Twizerumuremyi, with a sack of cannabis weighing 10kgs,” SP Nkundineza said.

Twizerumuremyi is Haragirimana’s employee charged with looking for clients, according to the DPC.

Meanwhile, in Rubavu District, one Mutarutwa was intercepted on January 15 in Rusiza village of Rusiza Cell, Bugeshi Sector with 1200 pellets of cannabis. 

Rubavu is mapped as one of the major trafficking routes due to its strategic position on the borderline with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Ministerial Order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis alongside cocaine and heroin as a "very severe narcotics."

The law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, especially in its article 263, provides an imprisonment of between 20 years and life, for anyone convicted for very severe narcotic drugs and a fine of up to Frw30 million.