Rwanda National Police

Five people said to be major dealers in cannabis have been arrested in separate operations conducted on Wednesday in Rubavu and Gasabo districts. 

Police identified the suspects as Jeannette Nyirandegeya, 25, Emmanuel Nduwimana, 33, Faridah Niyonsaba, 37, Tuyizere Innocent, 33, and Esther Kwizerayezu, 23.

Nyirandegeya, Nduwimana, Niyonsaba and Tuyizere were arrested in Gasabo, Rusororo Sector in Gasagara Cell.

They were arrested with combined 10kgs and 303 pellets of cannabis. 

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP)

Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the Central region, said that the intensified ANU operations are designed to break chains of supply.

She said that the quartet arrested in Gasabo was reported by residents and local leaders in Rusororo.

"Tuyizere had transported 10kgs of cannabis from Kayonza to Kigali. He was delivering the narcotics to Niyonsaba Faridah, who is one of the major suppliers in Gasabo," said CIP Umutesi. 

"Niyonsaba sent her young sister, Nyirandegeya Jeannette and a commercial motorcyclist, Nduwimana, too meet Tuyizere in Rugende and collect the cannabis."

Umutesi explained that on their return, residents and local leaders in Gasagara cell got suspicious of what they were transporting.

They stopped them and checked their luggage only to find that they were transporting cannabis and handed the suspects over to ANU alongside their exhibits.

Another suspect, Esther Kwizerayezu was arrested in Gisenyi town, Rubavu District with 303 pellets of cannabis.

CIP Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Kwizerayezu was at the time crossing into Rwanda from DR Congo when he was identified and arrested by Police at Grande barrierre border post.

"He had hidden the pellets in his underwear, but the trick was unearthed during the search," said CIP Karekezi.