English
Kinyarwanda
Police in Kamonyi District have arrested a man identified as Marc Tuyishimire after they found 400 pieces of plastic bags in his house in Kabagesera cell of Runda sector on December 24.
Tuyishimire is also facing charges of distilling illicit brew called Ibikwangari after over 190 litres of the illegal drink were also recovered from his house during the same operation.
He is currently detained at Runda Police Station as investigations continue.
“The business community and all Rwandans understand that it is illegal to use plastic bags in Rwanda because they were banned due to their ills on the environment; selling them is therefore illegal and punishable by law,” Chief Supt. (CSP) Hubert Gashagaza, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson, said.
Manufacture, sell or use of polythene bags is illegal and punishable under article 433 of the penal code and the fine ranges between Rwf5000 and Rwf3 million, but the fine can be doubled if a person relapse into criminal behavior.
CSP Gashagaza noted that the banned bags are sneaked into the country through illegal border posts and appealed to communities living along the borders to report such people.
He further called upon Rwandans not to buy goods packed in these bags and urged the business community to use the approved carchi paper-bags which are hygienic and of no danger to ecosystem.
CSP Gashagaza also warned against tendencies of drugs abuse and urged all Rwandans to stand up against the vice rated high among the youth.
