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Kinyarwanda
Strengthened community policing efforts against illicit drugs in Muhanga District continues to pay off after big quantities of contrabands valued in millions of money.
Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, said that following enhanced awareness campaigns and public-back operations over the last five months, at least 450 cartons of contrabands in different brands, have been seized.
“Most common and seized drugs in Muhanga include Sky Blue, African Gin, Kitoko, Chief Waragi, Kanyanga, and cannabis,” IP Kayigi said.
The illicit gin packed in banned plastic bags, are classified among narcotics in Rwanda under the Ministerial Order determining unauthorized drinks and other controlled substances classified as narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances.
The contrabands also have the alcoholic content above 45 percent.
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.”
“Over the last five months, we also seized 110kgs of cannabis and over 450 litres of kanyanga – crude gin. In all of these cases, suspects were arrested and are either serving their sentences or undergoing judicial processes,” Kayigi said.
The seized psychotropic substances were destroyed in a public exercise on Thursday, in presence of thousands of residents, motorcyclists and cyclists as well as local leaders, police and prosecution.
“Crimes in Muhanga have gone down drastically; but besides those related to drugs, crimes like assault, domestic and gender based violence, and theft are still being reported; investigations into almost all cases reveal that these crimes are fueled or committed by people under the influence of illicit drugs,” he explained.
“Overall, there is increased community anti-crime awareness, which has increased the rate of information sharing, creation of more anti-crime clubs, increased operations, arrests and prosecution.”
Currently, there are about 100 anti-crime clubs in Muhanga, composed of students, motorcyclists and cyclists.
IP Kayigi said that awareness campaigns against crimes in general, will continue, but warned that “this will not stop operations and arrests of anyone that will be found in any unlawful acts.”
He advised those spending their money in unlawful businesses to invest in legal ventures other than “burning it in criminal businesses that will not be tolerated.”
Growing, making, selling, transforming, transporting, storing and consumption of narcotic drugs and illicit substance is prohibited and punishable by law in Rwanda.
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.
