Rwanda National Police

Police and local leaders in Karongi District have warned residents against distilling and selling illicit brew.

The warning follows separate operations conducted Thursday in the cells of Bwogo and Rwariro of Gitesi and Mutuntu sectors, respectively, where Police and local leaders seized 3290 litres of illicit brew from nine distillers.

The operations were aimed at dismantling illegal distilleries in the two sectors. The substances are made out of mixed industrial fertilizers, water, sugarcane residues and other unhygienic and harmful raw materials.

The psychotropic substances were disposed of in presence of hundreds of local residents, who were urged to report people operating illegal distilleries.

The District Police Commander (DPC) for Kamonyi, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Julien Nkurikiyinka, who thanked those who provided information on the unlawful businesses, said that “operations will continue to destroy all illegal breweries, dispose of such illicit substances and ensure that distillers are penalized.”

“These substances are unhealthy and harmful to human health because they are made out of raw materials that are poisonous to humans and distilled in unhygienic areas,” CIP Nkurikiyinka told residents.

CIP Nkurikiyinka reiterated the need for collective action against the vice. He warned that only licensed distilleries are allowed to operate within the set standards by Rwanda Standards Bureau (RBS), including using raw materials.

He called for continued partnership with the public and sharing information on dealers in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The Vice-Mayor for Karongi in charge of Social Affairs, Valentine Mukase urged residents to desist from such unlawful acts saying that they are the source of avoid poverty, family conflicts and other crimes.

Dr. Violette Ayingeneye, the director for Kibuye Hospital reminded the residents that they risk consuming poisonous substances.

“Everything meant for human consumption must follow the legal and healthy process,” Dr. Ayingeneye told the residents.

RSB set standard requirements include labeling (name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer); net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instructions; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order, among others.