Rwanda National Police

A suspected major drug dealer was arrested on Sunday, May 16, in Kamembe, Rusizi District.

Beatrice Mukandayisaba, 27, was at the time collecting a new consignment of about 1000 pellets of cannabis when she was arrested by the Police.

She is a resident of Kadashya Village, Ruganda Cell of Gihundwe Sector also in Rusizi District.

The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said residents first intercepted a taxi-moto operator, who was delivering the narcotics to Mukandayisaba.

"We received information from local residents about Congolese, who had delivered a consignment on the Rwandan territory through Lake Kivu, and gave it to a motorcyclist only identified as Said, before returning in the same direction towards DR Congo," said CIP Karekezi.

He added: "However, residents moved in quickly to intercept the motorcyclist as he rode away with the consignment, which they suspected to be narcotics.

The motorcyclist dropped the sack containing the narcotics and fleed. Police officers deployed continued to survey the area believed to be the point where the motorcyclist was supposed to meet Mukandayisaba, until she arrived and arrested her as she was collecting the narcotics."

Mukandayisenga has since been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Kamembe station.

CIP Karekezi said the search for the motorcyclist, who transported the narcotics from the Congolese traffickers on the shores of Lake Kivu, is still underway.

He thanked the vigilance and responsiveness of the residents.

"The role of the public is important in fighting and preventing crimes, particularly in breaking chains of drug dealers," said the spokesperson.

Cannabis is classified among the 'very severe narcotics' under the Ministerial order n? 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation.

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 drugs, the offender, upon conviction  faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million.