Rwanda National Police

Police in Rubavu District arrested two women on Sunday in connection with trafficking and selling narcotic drugs.

Philomene Mukanyandwi, 21, and Jeanine Uwamahoro, 26, were at the time of their arrest found in possession of 4000 pellets of cannabis.

The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, said the duo was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) in Kaniga village, Gisa cell of Rugerero Sector.

“ANU, reacting on credible information, arrested the two women red-handed. According to Police informers in Rubavu, they have been in this criminal business for a while trafficking cannabis and selling to local retailers," CIP Kayigi said.

“We appreciate people’s efforts to fight drug related crimes. Many people now understand its bad effects and they are willing to share information."

“This is a serious crime because of its ill-health effects to consumers. It is also common that drug abusers end up committing other crimes like theft, sexual abuse, assault and even murder, so we should all stand up against it in our communities,” the spokesperson said.

Fighting drugs abuse is one of the RNP priorities and a number of initiatives have been laid to combat the vice through community policing where majority dealers and users have since been arrested.

Article 263 of the new penal code partly states 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 ranging from seven years to life in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between Rwf20 million Rwf30 million.