Rwanda National Police

Three members of the same racket that has been trafficking narcotic drugs into Rwanda and supplying other local dealers and retailers, have been arrested in Rubavu District in possession of 3,076 rolls of cannabis.

They were arrested on Saturday, August 7, in a target operation conducted by the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU).

The group include its ringleader and main supplier, Theoneste Habarugira, 30. Two others are said to be Habarugira's employees largely charged with overseeing the distribution chain. They are Chance Mahoro, 27, arrested in Bushengo Village, Gikombe Cell of Rubavu Sector with 2,000 pellets of cannabis and Alexis Nshimiyimana, 26, arrested in Rukingo village, Rugerero cell, Rugerero sector in possession of 1,076 pellets.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, ANU has been trailing Nshimiyimana following credible information from residents that he was a drug dealer.

?ANU tracked Nshimiyimana to Rugerero Sector where he was arrested at about 11am, with a bundle containing 1,076 rolls of cannabis. He had travelled to Rugerero to supply local retailers," CIP Karekezi said.

Following his arrest, he added, Nshimiyimana disclosed that he was working for Habarugira and that he was to be paid Frw10,000 upon delivering the narcotics to clients.

He further said that together with Mahoro, they got the latest consignments from their boss in Gikombe Cell, Rubavu Sector.

?With this new information, ANU located Mahoro in Gikombe Cell where she was also arrested with another bundle of 2,000 pellets of cannabis. Like Nshimiyimana, Mahoro also comfirmed that they were working for Habarugira, who was also traced and arrested in Bushengo village, Gikombe cell," CIP Karekezi said.

The spokesperson lauded the impact of community policing and public ownership to report drug dealers, which facilitates the police to break chains of suppliers and local retailers.

He warned that operations are aimed at breaking drug trafficking and supply chains.

All the suspects have since been handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further investigations and legal process.

The Ministerial order N? 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies Cannabis among the "very severe narcotic drugs"

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.
 
Upon conviction for "very severe narcotics," the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million.