English
Kinyarwanda
More than 470,000 litres of ethanol used in the production of illicit alcoholic beverages were destroyed in Kigali on Wednesday, August 5, during a joint operation involving Rwanda National Police, local authorities and other security agencies, as the nationwide crackdown on substandard beverages continues.
The ethanol had been seized during enforcement operations across the three districts of the City of Kigali before being transported to a secure location for disposal.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Wellars Gahonzire, the Police spokesperson for the Central region, said the exercise is part of ongoing multi-agency efforts to eliminate substances used in the manufacture of illicit alcoholic beverages and protect public health.
"The ethanol destroyed today was seized from different locations across the three districts of Kigali and brought together for safe disposal," Gahonzire said. "Operations to trace and seize more ethanol will continue because some people are still storing it."
He said enforcement agencies will also continue searching for and destroying alcoholic beverages produced using ethanol or manufactured outside approved standards, warning that anyone found producing, storing or distributing the illegal products will be held accountable.
"We urge anyone who still has ethanol or illicit alcoholic beverages to voluntarily provide information so they can be collected and destroyed. We also call on the public to avoid consuming substandard drinks and to promptly report anyone involved in their production, storage or distribution," he added.
The destruction exercise is part of an ongoing multi-agency campaign to eliminate illicit alcoholic beverages from the market following the Government's decision to intensify action against substandard drinks linked to deaths and serious health complications. More than 130 factories associated with the production of non-compliant alcoholic beverages have so far been closed, while the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has suspended advertising of the affected products and ordered the removal of related billboards nationwide.
According to the Ministry of Health, at least 50 people have died after consuming illicit alcoholic beverages during the first seven months of this year, while more than 100 others have suffered blindness.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) said investigations into the manufacture and distribution of the illicit beverages have so far led to the arrest of more than 61 suspects, while others remain at large.
Those under investigation face charges including administering a harmful substance capable of causing death or serious injury, an offence punishable by two to three years' imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf300,000 and Rwf500,000. Where the substance causes permanent illness or disability, the penalty increases to between 20 and 25 years' imprisonment, in addition to a fine ranging from Rwf500,000 to Rwf1 million.
