Rwanda National Police

Police and local leaders in Kamonyi District have dismantled a plant that was distilling a crude gin commonly known as Kanyanga, which is banned and classified as “psychotropic substance” in Rwanda.

Four people said to be the joint owners of the plant located in Kintama Village, Nyarubaka Sector, were also taken into custody when Police officers and local authorities raided the plant on September 18.

Police identified the suspects as; Pelagie Mukaremera, 63, Elias Niyonshuti, 37, Theoneste Nyandwi, 23, and one only identified as Ayirwanda, 28.

“They were arrested red-handed distilling the illicit gin,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.

The suspects are detained at Musambira Police station.

“Police in Kamonyi had information on this criminal business. This time residents called the Police and local leaders when they saw them distilling Kanyanga deep in the night at about 2am, when the officers were dispatched and arrested them in the act,” CIP Karekezi said.

Police also seized some containers of the kanyanga, which they had already distilled as well as equipment and raw materials they were using to distill the substances.

CIP Karekezi thanked the residents for the “spirit of neighborhood watch” and information sharing which “facilitated successful operation.”

He called for strengthened community policing initiatives and real time information sharing on anything illegal or unlawful.

“Even when you are not sure that someone is involved in any criminal acts, inform the Police or security organs and let them find out. We will be able to avert crimes or bring offenders to justice,” the spokesperson emphasized.

Under article 594, paragraph 2, 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.