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Kinyarwanda
On Friday, February 3, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) arrested one Alexandre Mbarushimana, 21, in Rulindo District after he was found in possession of 10kgs of cannabis.
Mbarushimana was at the time going to supply his clients when he was intercepted in Cyasuri Village, Sayo Cell in Kisaro Sector.
He was reported by a local resident, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).
"Following information provided by a resident alleging that Mbarushimana is a drug dealer and was at the time transporting cannabis, ANU officers intercepted him Cyasuri village with 7kgs of cannabis concealed in a bag.
Police also searchedhis house where other 3kgs of cannabis were recovered," SP Ndayisenga said.
Mbarushimana disclosed that he was trafficking narcotics into Rwanda from Uganda through porous border points and using remote routes to supply his customers. He, however, did not disclose his clients.
He was handed over to RIB for further investigations.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies cannabis in the category of "very severe narcotics.’’
Article 263 of law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for very severe narcotics, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Frw20 million and Frw30 million.
