Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyamagabe District impounded a vehicle loaded with bags of cannabis, which had been trafficked into the country through a porous border.

The vehicle, RAA 388N Toyota Corolla type was intercepted on April 14, in Kitabi Sector.

The vehicle was headed to Huye from Rusizi District before it was intercepted midway, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.

“Two men; Venuste Nkurunziza and one only identified as Sibomana, who were on board at time, were also taken into custody,” CIP Karekezi said.

“There was information that these two suspects were drugs traffickers and supplying local retailers in the region, and other parts of the country, and had been on the list of dealers,” he added.

Sibomana is the driver while Nkurunziza is the owner of the vehicle.

“On Sunday, we received information that the duo was headed to Rusizi to transport more narcotics, Police officers trailed them and intercepted them along the way as they headed to Huye where it is suspected they were to deliver the drugs,” CIP Karekezi explained.

He disclosed that another drug trafficker identified as Pierre Sibomana was arrested the same day in Gasaka Sector also in Nyamagabe, trafficking quantities of cannabis.

Sibomana was at the time traveling in a Kigali-bound public bus from Rusizi when one of the passengers, aware of his criminal dealings, called the Police.

“We have a list of some people suspected to be trafficking cannabis into the country as well as local dealers; it’s a matter of time before those still at large are arrested,” he warned.

Under the new law on drugs, anyone convicted as a ‘big’ drug dealer faces a penalty of between 20 years and life in prison and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.