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Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police, on Thursday paraded three men who were arrested red-handed as they attempted to transport eight sacks of cannabis weighting about 400kgs from Kirehe District to Kigali.
The suspects identified as Pacifique Nkurikiyingoma, Emmanuel Havugimana and Emmanuel Ngendahimana were busted by the police as they loaded eight sacks of marijuana in a vehicle.
Rwanda National Police Spokesperson (RNP), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa, said that the arrest of the trio was due to a tip-off from Kirehe district residents and it’s in the spirit of continued collaboration in fighting against drug abuse.
“We received reports from residents about sacks of cannabis being smuggled in the country; we trailed them until we arrested them,” he said.
Twahirwa issued a tough warning against anyone dealing in drug use and trafficking saying that police won’t be lenient or hesitate to arrest anyone connected to drugs.
He appreciated the role of the public in the continued fight against crime and argued them to maintain the spirit and partner with police to preserve peace and security.
The suspects pleaded guilty and two of them confessed having knowledge of the fact that they were dealing in drugs.
They claim they were all connected by a man known as Jonas who hails from Muhanga district.
“Jonas called me and asked me to assist him transport the sacks to Kigali and he would send a car with a driver,” said the alleged ringleader Havugimana.
The vehicle driver, Nkurikiyingoma, claimed he also received a call from Jonas and told him that he was to meet with Ngendahimana who would guide him to where they were to pick up some people with luggages and drive them to Kigali. He had been promised Rwf50, 000.
As the two proceeded to Havugimana’s house, Ngendahimana saw a police car and attempted to flee whereby he was apprehended along with Nkurikiyingoma and the vehicle was impounded.
RNP has continuously been engaged in breaking the supply chain of narcotics by mapping-out individuals and groups involved in this crime, which has led to the arrest of hundreds of dealers, most of whom have been prosecuted and banned brews and drugs such as cannabis seized and destroyed.
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.
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.
