Rwanda National Police

Police has seized a total of 662 liters of illicit brew and over 10 kilograms of cannabis, in targeted operations countrywide that aim to safeguard the country from these unsafe products.

The successful operations were conducted in the districts of Nyagatare, Ruhango, Nyaruguru, Ngoma, Kicukiro and Kayonza on February 25.

The illicit brews are in various local names, such as Kanyanga, Muriture, Nyirantare, Ibikwangari and Yewemuntu – and they were all destroyed in public view after their confiscation.

They are impure and crudely made with raw materials such as sugar residuals and in many cases other chemicals are added to increase the alcohol content.

These dangerous brews and drugs cause health complications to those who consume them, as well as, corrupting their judgment and leading them into other criminal activities like violence, burglary and theft among others.

“The operations were successful because of the good cooperation between police and the public through community policing. Just like drugs, illicit brew fuels the rate of criminal activity – and it should be discouraged in every society,” Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.

“The youth must be encouraged to concentrate on their education and other developmental activities like entrepreneurship, rather than waste their time and money in the consumption of drugs and illicit brews which have a negative effect on their lives and society.”

Police is at the helm of fighting drug abuse and the sale of illicit brew – with one major incidence occurring on February 10, when Police in Musanze destroyed narcotic drugs and fake products valued at over Rwf20 million.

The force continuously engages in breaking the supply chain of illegal drugs and illicit brew by mapping-out individuals and groups involved in this crime, which has led to the arrest hundreds of dealers, most of whom have been prosecuted and drugs such as cannabis and illicit brews seized and destroyed.

Awareness programmes in communities, on radios and during special occasions like ‘community policing and Police Week’ have also helped to make the public understand the negative effects of drug abuse.

Article 598 of the penal code stipulates that any person who manufactures, sells, prescribes a drug, harmful products, cosmetics or body hygiene and other herbal substances prohibited in healing practice, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf5 million or one of these.