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Kinyarwanda
Separate police operations against drug trafficking in Rubavu district, conducted on September 11, saw five suspected major drug dealers arrested.
They were arrested with more than 6,000 pellets and 8kgs of cannabis, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
"The first to be arrested are Emmanuel Niyonzima, 23, who had 1,000 pellets of cannabis, and his colleague Patrick Muhire, 35, who was transporting him. They were intercepted in Rugerero Sector, Muhira cell in Gatebe II village," said CIP Karekezi.
Another suspect; Janvier Tuyisenge, 26, was arrested in Murambi cell, Buzuta village with two packages of combined 8kgs of cannabis.
He was at the time being transported on a motorcycle. The motorcyclist managed to escape the arrest abandoning the motorcycle, which was impounded.
"Two other suspected drug traffickers; Alloys Habimana, 51, and Maridadi Nsanzimana, 31, were intercepted in Kanzenze sector, Kirerema cell in Rushasha village with 5,000 rolls of cannabis," CIP Karekezi said.
"These are strengthened operations targeting mainly traffickers and local distributors, but the best part is that the public are at the top of it, playing the central part by reporting these major dealers and facilitating to break the supply chain."
The three separate successful operations came a day after Police also seized three bales of cannabis and three fire extinguisher cylinders stashed with pellets of narcotics, also in Rubavu.
Under article 263 of the law nº68/2018 of 30/08/2018 relating to offences and penalties in general, any person convicted as a dealer in severe drugs faces between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
