Rwanda National Police

Strengthened efforts to break rings that traffic and supply narcotic drugs in the country led to the arrest of two people in the City of Kigali said to be part of the chain.

A woman identified as Uwingeneye Jeanette, 32, and Mugabe Alex, 40, were arrested separately in Gasabo and Kicukiro district, respectively.

Each of the suspects was arrested with a sack of cannabis. They admitted to the crime while speaking to the media at Kigali Metropolitan Police offices in Remera, where they are currently detained.

Uwingeneye told the media that she has been in this criminal business since November last year.

“I was introduced to this business by someone last November, who was trafficking them into the country; I was his supplier,” Uwingeneye said, adding, “this time Police found the drugs in my house… I was supposed to deliver them to a retailer in Kimisagara.”

On his part, Mugabe, who previously served a three-year sentence for the same crime, admitted that he was arrested in the morning of February 15 in Gitega Sector, Nyarugenge District with a sack of cannabis, which he got from another supplier.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, said that “operations to break chains of supply are continuous.”  

“These psychotropic substances are trafficked from neighbouring countries. We have strengthened operations targeting mainly traffickers and local suppliers but also increasing sensitization campaigns to educate the young people on dangers of abusing drugs,” CP Kabera said.

He commended the responsiveness of the general public especially through sharing of information that lead to the arrest of drug dealers.

Trafficking and supplying narcotic drugs is punishable with a sentence of between seven years and life in prison.