Rwanda National Police

Separate operations conducted on Friday in Kicukiro and Rubavu districts arrested two men said to be major dealers in narcotic drugs.

They were arrested with combined 2,590 pellets of cannabis.

Eulade Tugirimana was arrested in Bwerankori Cell of Kigarama Sector in Kicukiro district with 2101 pellets of cannabis.

Rodrigue Uwishema was also arrested at Rubavu border post (Grande Barrière) with the Democratic Republic of Congo with 489 pellets of cannabis.

Tugirimana had also trafficked the narcotics to Kigali from the DR Congo, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie Gorette Umutesi, Police spokesperson for the Central region, said.

"Tugirimana managed to traffic the narcotics from Goma, DRC through Rubavu, Karongi,  Nkomero to Nyanza where he lives. He later transported the drugs to Kigali on a motorcycle," CIP Umutesi said.

Information was provided by someone at a bar in Kigarama where Tugirimana was at the time.

"One of the people, who were at the bar heard Tugirimana arguing with two other men on the value of 1000 pellets of cannabis and he called the Police. The two other individuals still at large, are said to be his customers who operates in Mageragere sector," CIP Umutesi explained.

Meanwhile, Uwishema had concealed the pellets of cannabis in his bags, which contained clothes and other personal belongings.

The narcotics were recovered by Police officers at the border when they searched Uwishema's bag as he crossed into Rwanda from Goma.

Under the penal code, especially in its article 263, major drug dealers face a term of between 20 years and life in prison.

If drug-related acts are performed to a child, the penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rwf50 million.