Rwanda National Police

Two suspected drug dealers were arrested on Wednesday in Jarama Sector, Ngoma District with 17 kilogrammes of cannabis. The suspects; Jean Pierre Sendwi alias Musirikare and Vincent Mvuyekure had just received the illegal consignment from a Burundian trafficker when the Police arrested them, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.

“They were arrested in a place called Akagera valley where they met their supplier, who managed to escape back to Burundi. The arrest followed information provided by people, who were farming in the valley and saw the men with the suspicious luggage,” said CIP Twizeyimana.  

He added that the duo was previously suspected to be drug dealers supplied by traffickers from Burundi through the porous border in Akagera Valley.

The suspects said they had bought the leafy narcotic drugs at Rwf180, 000, and were to transport it to Bugesera District, where they had a buyer.

CIP Twizeyimana commended the responsiveness of the farmers in Akagera valley and called for continued information sharing on anyone they suspect to be a drug dealer or carrying suspicious luggage.

Article 263 of Rwanda penal code stipulates that any person who, unlawfully, produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, with a sentence upon conviction, ranging between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.