Rwanda National Police

Separate operations by security organs against illicit drugs conducted on Thursday destroyed five illegal distilleries in Kayonza, Gasabo, Nyarugenge and Ngoma districts. Nine people said to be the owners of the distilleries were also taken into custody during the operations.

Over 5000 litres of locally made illicit drinks with varied names were also seized from the three plants during the operations.

The seized substances were poured before residents to signal the warning and seriousness attached to the fight against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

At least 2040 litres were seized from a plant owned by one Valens Kayiranga in Kabuye Cell of Jabana Sector in Gasabo, where four people were also arrested in connection with the act.

In the home of one André Bizimana of Ntovi in Rukumberi Sector of Ngoma District, Police also recovered other 400 litres.

In Kayonza, 2000 litres were recovered from the distillery owned by one Jean Paul Bikorimana located in Kawangire cell of Rukara Sector while one Samuel Gatete also of Kawangire was found with 720 litres. The duo was also taken into custody.

The vice mayor of Kayonza in charge of Social Affairs, Jean Damascene Harerimana, while addressing the residents during the exercise to dispose of the substances, thanked them for the role in fighting trafficking, making and selling of drugs.

He reminded them that for one to engage in distillery business, there are criteria to follow to prevent producing and giving people hazardous substances.

“Investing your money in such illegal business is like burning it because when they are seized they are destroyed, and that’s not a loss to the person only; it’s a loss to the whole family and actually a double loss when the father or mother is arrested and spends years in prison,” Harerimana said.

The District Police Commander of Kayonza, Supt. Octave Mutembe also called upon the residents to “report anyone they suspect to be involved in such criminal business.”

The seizure and destruction of the substances is part of the ongoing countrywide operations which start last year, by Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Standards Bureau (RSB) as well as local authorities, to close any illegal distillery and take legal action against those involved.

RSB specifies that “only food grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”

Other standard requirements include labeling as a prerequisite; the name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer; net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instruction; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order.