Rwanda National Police

Five people were on Monday, May 24, arrested in Gakenke District with 1515 rolls of cannabis.

The group was intercepted by the Police enroute to City of Kigali from Musanze District.

Those arrested are Nadia Umutoniwase, 18, Florence Mukashema, 32, Emmanuel Ngabonziza, 27, Olivier Byiringiro, 25 and one only identified as Uwineza, 25.

The District Police Commander (DPC) for Gakenke, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaston Karagire said that the drug dealers were apprehended due to a tip-off by residents.

"We received information that Umutoniwase and a taxi-moto operator were enroute to Kigali with narcotic drugs. We mounted a roadblock in Kageyo Village, Rusagara Cell, Gakenke Sector. 

However, on seeing the Police, they diverted to a remote road but abandoned a consignment of narcotics during the pursuit," said SSP Karagire.

He added: "Later, we received information that Umutoniwase and the motorcyclist were hiding at Doxa Bar and Lodge in Gakenke town, where she was arrested alongside their two other accomplices--Olivier Byiringiro and Uwineza.

It was later established that Umutoniwase got the narcotics from Florence Mukashema in Musanze. Mukeshimana was also located and arrested together with Emmanuel Ngabonziza, a commercial motorcyclist, who was facilitating to transport them and their narcotics."

Two motorcycles, which were being used by the group in drug trafficking were also impounded.

The DPC commended the residents who reported the drug trafficking ring leading to their arrest.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Gakenke station alongside their exhibits for further legal process.

Cannabis is calssified as "very several drugs" in Rwanda.

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. 

In case of very severe narcotic drigs, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million.