Rwanda National Police

Fighting making, sell and consumption of illicit brew equally contributes to prevention of domestic conflicts and safer communities, residents of Karongi District have been told.

The call was made on September 1, by the District Police Commander of Karongi, Inspector of Police (IP) Jean Baptiste Rutebuka, while addressing residents of Twumba and Bwishyura sectors.

The community policing meeting followed operations the previous night where police seized over 1300 litres of illicit brew.

The psychotropic substances were destroyed in presence of the residents.

“These substances are harmful to your health because they contain hazardous content and also distilled in unhygienic place,” IP Rutebuka said.

He reminded them of the consequences to whoever will be caught in such criminal acts.

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.

The law governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in Rwanda, in its Article 24, also 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."

The Ministerial Order Nº 20/35 of 09/06/2015, determining unauthorized drinks and other controlled substances classified as narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, listed a number of drinks and other unauthorised substances classified as narcotics in Rwanda.

The substances are Kanyanga, mayirungi, muriture, Chief Waragi, Suzie and all gins packed in banned plastic bags.

Others include any liquid substance that contains more than zero and a half percent (0.5%) of methanol in the composition, khat, Glue (inhaled), Gasoline (inhaled); and any other substance considered as a narcotic drug by Instructions of the Minister in charge of Health.

“In order to work hard and also remain health, you should shun these malpractices and enhance partnership to fight them by identifying distillers,” the DCLO told the residents.

He, however, hailed the existing partnership through which information of drug dealers and suspected criminals in general are reported, and urged them to build on that to ensure that their communities are free from narcotics.