Rwanda National Police

Police in Huye District said its partnership with the residents has tremendously paid off especially in the field of fighting drug abuse.

The revelations came in awake of the arrest of Felicien Bangamwabo who was found with 327 pellets of cannabis in his home.

Bangamwabo is currently held at Mukura police station as investigations continue.

Police also destroyed 650 litres of locally made illicit brew that was confiscated from different people.

According to the police, it’s the public that tipped off officers about the substances and officer intervened to arrest the suspect, confiscate and destroy the substances.  

“We usually encourage the public to report such offenses and indeed residents of have proved that they can’t tolerate such offenders in their neighborhoods,” said Southern Province Police spokesperson Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) André Hakizimana. 

"Fighting drug abuse remains part of the police operation priorities and officers in collaboration with the public are alert to ensure that such suspects are apprehended, residents are always helpful in providing information about such illegal practices happening in their communities."

 “RNP will carry on fighting against illicit brews and drugs. We have formed local partnerships to do this, but more still needs to be done through community policing in order to completely cut off both the manufacturing and distribution chains of these products,” he said 

In detailing effects of drugs, CIP Hakizimana pointed out that the problem is, drugs affect all age groups and in turn affects diverse sectors such as economy, education, health, morals and lay foundation to other crimes such as domestic violence, robberies and homicides.

In most cases, he explained, at the level when addicts can’t afford such drugs, they develop bad behaviours in society and lay foundation to other crimes like theft, domestic violence and homicides.

Article 594 of the penal code penalises any person, who consumes, injects, inhales, anoints him/herself with or makes any other unlawful use of narcotic drugs, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of one to three years and a fine of Rwf50, 000 to Rwf500, 000.

It adds that, any person who unlawfully makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic  drugs within the country, shall be liable to a term of  imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of Rwf500, 000 to Rwf5 million.

If the acts under the preceding paragraph are committed internationally, the penalties are doubled.