English
Kinyarwanda
Illegal distilleries making illicit substances were destroyed in Kamonyi District on Friday.
Police and local leaders also seized about 1000 litres of illicit drinks from the destroyed breweries and arrested six people in connection with the crime, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.
CIP Karekezi identified the suspects as Leonald Kalisa, Samuel Wakwetu, Thomas Musabyimana, Clemantine Nyiransabimana, Justine Mpayimana and one only identified as Tuyisenge.
The illicit drinks were disposed of in Nyarubaka Sector, Gitare Cell in Mugereke Village where police and local officials appealed to the public to desist from making and consuming the psychotropic substances, but also report distillers.
All drinks with alcoholic content exceeding 45 per cent as well as all those without the standard mark (S-Mark) issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) are classified as narcotics.
“Giving these substances to people is like poisoning them. We are working with local leaders and other community policing groups like Irondo, CPCs, anti-drugs clubs and youth volunteers to educate the people on dangers of abusing the substances and the repercussions to dealers or distillers," the spokesperson said.
“Let people venture into lawful businesses that don’t pose danger to others or losses and imprisonment," CIP Karekezi advised.
Under article 263 of the new penal code, anyone convicted of producing, transforming, transporting, storing, giving to another or selling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances faces a penalty of between seven years and life in prison and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
