Rwanda National Police

On April 1, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) apprehended a man with a bundle containing 5,000 pellets of cannabis.

Aloys Habimana, 52, was arrested red-handedly in Marumba village, Gihonga Cell of Busasamana Sector. 

Western Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, said the suspect Habimana, who hails from the neighbouring Mudende Sector, had just received the consignment from a supplier in DR Congo through a porous border in Rubavu District.

"ANU officers had information that Habimana is a drug dealer and was trailing him. They later received information that he had ordered for 6000 pellets of cannabis from DRC, but the supplier delivered only 5000 pellets, which he was caught up with. We are still following up on other people connected to his drug-dealing ring, including those that Habimana supplies," said CIP Karekezi.

The suspect and exhibits were handed to Gisenyi RIB Station for further investigation.

The spokesperson applauded residents of Rubavu and the region in general, for continued partnership and ownership especially in the fight against drug dealing and smuggling.

Art 3 of 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 the law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences 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 drugs" the offender is liable to between 20 years and life imprisonment and a fine of between Frw20 million and Frw30 million.