Rwanda National Police

A vehicle loaded with assorted illicit gin was impounded on Friday in Gicumbi District.

The vehicle, Toyota Corolla registration number RAA 902, was intercepted by the Police in Byumba Sector with about 250 cartons of Chief Waragi and jerrycans of a crude gin commonly known as Kanyanga.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that the vehicle was intercepted at about 2:30 am.

"The vehicle was headed to Ntarabana Sector in Rulindo District from Kaniga and it was intercepted midway in Byumba," CIP Rugigana said.

"This was in response to a call from an informer earlier that night about the same vehicle which they saw loading boxes and jerrycans of assorted illicit gin," he added.

"When Police officers stopped the vehicle in Byumba, the driver hit the roadblock in an attempt to flee, but he lost control and went off the road. The driver managed to escape but another man, who was on board was arrested," CIP Rugigana said.

He identified the suspect in custody as Emmanuel Uzayisenga, 30, who hails from Rulindo, Ntarabana Sector in Kajevuba Cell.

Meanwhile, Uzayisenga disclosed that they were delivering illicit drinks to one only identified as Abouba.

"Abouba hired us to traffic the drugs from Kaniga in Gicumbi District to Ntarabana," Uzayisenga said.

The vehicle was impounded to Byumba Police station where the suspect is also detained.

CIP Rugigana commended the role the the residents in Gicumbi especially those residing on the borderline, in fighting trafficking of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances.

Residents in all the sectors of Gicumbi and Burera districts, which lie on the borderline, created anti-drugs groups to supplement the Rwanda National Police efforts in breaking chains of supply.