Rwanda National Police

Separate joint security operations conducted in Rusizi and Kirehe districts on Tuesday arrested at least eight people suspected to be engaged in trafficking narcotic drugs and smuggling goods into the country.

Five of the suspects were arrested in the operation conducted in Kagarama Cell of Mururu Sector in Rusizi.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the “joint security cordon and search targeted specific homes whose owners had been identified as either dealers in narcotic drugs or smugglers.”

“Two of the suspects; Pascal Sindikubwabo, 33, and Fiacre Ndabamenye, 67, were arrested with combined 7.5kgs and 1584 pellets of cannabis,” CIP Gasasira said.

Another suspect identified as Jean Bosco Hategekimana, 48, the spokesperson said, was found with boxes of chief waragi, a banned gin and classified as narcotic drug in Rwanda, and 200 litres of locally made illicit brew.

Also seized include petroleum products that were being sold on black market, over 400 metres of electric cables, sacks of second-hand clothes, banned bleaching agents, soft and energy drinks, and powdered milk.

“Suspects of drug trafficking and exhibits were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau at Kamembe station, illicit brew disposed of while smuggled goods were handed over to Revenue Protection Unit in Rusizi,” CIP Gasasira explained.

He thanked the residents for their facilitating the successful operation through information sharing.

“Those arrested were on the list of suspected drug traffickers and smugglers. This list is compiled based on information we receive from the people through our community policing engagements,” Gasasira said.

In Kirehe, CIP Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said three drug dealers were taken into custody after they were found with combined 20kgs of cannabis.

“The suspects had concealed rolls of cannabis in two jerrycans; one would think the jerrycans were full of water,” CIP Kanamugire said.

Under article 263 of the new penal code, anyone convicted of producing, transforming, transporting, storing, giving to another or selling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances faces a penalty of between seven and life in prison and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.