English
Kinyarwanda
A plant distilling illicit gin was discovered in Ruhango District on Monday. Two people alleged to be the owners identified as Florida Mukamurigo, 59, and Ildephonse Nsabimana, 30, were also arrested.
They were arrested red-handed distilling Kanyanga, a crude illicit gin classified as narcotics in Rwanda, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Southern region Police spokesperson, said.
“There was information from residents that these people were running a distillery that makes illicit gin. Police and local leaders conducted an operation and they were arrested red-handed distilling kanyanga,” the spokesperson said.
Police also seized jerrycans full of kanyanga and other equipment including drums, pipes and raw materials used to make the gin.
One of the suspects, Mukamurigo admitted that she has been in this illegal business for quite some time but asked for lenience promising never to do it again. The suspects are currently detained at Kabagali Police Station.
Kanyanga is said to be having alcoholic content way above 45 percent set stand as stipulated in article 24 of the law governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in Rwanda.
The law states that “any drink that exceeds forty five percent of alcohol and any other drink which doesn't have the required quality for consumption shall be considered as narcotic drug.”
Article 594 of the Rwandan penal code, stipulates that, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances 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.
