Rwanda National Police

A suspected drug trafficker was arrested over the weekend in Nyabihu District as the force continues the joint community policing measures to combat the vice.

Patrick Mazimpaka, 36, was intercepted at a check-point in Mizingo Village of Rega Cell in Bigogwe Sector with 1664 rolls of cannabis, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP), Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.

“Mazimpaka was traveling in a RITCO bus heading to Kigali from Nyabihu; it was stopped at a check-point at about 3pm on Saturday. The check-point had been mounted following information Police in Nyabihu had received from a member of the public,” CIP Gasasira said.

“The pellets had been concealed in a bag. The suspect is currently detained at Jenda Police station,” he explained.

This follows other series of arrests in different parts of the country as part of the strengthened efforts to cut off supply chains.

 “Addressing the whole drug trafficking problem is based on the responsiveness of the general public. They are the people that live with the same drug dealers, and as usual we continue to count on their information for successful response to identify and arrest drug dealers,” the spokesperson emphasised.

According to CIP Gasasira, two other people were also arrested in the same vehicle with smuggled goods including clothes and shoes.

The seized smuggled goods were handed over to Revenue Protection Unit, he said.

Similar smuggled goods were also seized in Rulindo District where four smugglers were also apprehended during the operation.