Rwanda National Police

Police in Gisagara District have arrested a 74-year-old man for allegedly smuggling and trading in pharmaceutical drugs illegally, putting people’s lives at risk.

Augustine Misago is now detained at Gisagara Police station where the drugs have also been impounded as exhibits, pending more investigations.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said the suspect was arrested red-handed with 17 different types of human drugs.

“The suspect had an assortment of different pharmaceutical drugs found concealed in boxes, besides smuggling them, Misago is not licensed to trade in pharmaceuticals” CIP Karekezi said.

He mentioned that some people may die as a result of fake or expired drugs brought into the country through such illegal channels and by unlicensed or unqualified individuals.

Experts say even medicines that are substandard—containing an insufficient dosage of active ingredients can be deadly, leading to drug resistance, a particular issue for infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis

In Rwanda, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is the main body in charge of ensuring the safety of drugs and medicines.