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Kinyarwanda
A police operation in Ruhango has netted two suspects, Ezechiel Kabango, 83, and Emmanuel Kubwimana, 20, after the duo was found distilling illicit gin, commonly known as kanyanga.
The suspects were arrested in the night of Sunday, August 19 in Ntungamo Village of Nyamagana Cell, Ruhango Sector.
At the time of their arrest the suspects had distilled 20 liters of kanyanga. Police also confiscated the paraphernalia they allegedly used in the process.
The suspects are detained at Ruhango Police Station.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson confirmed the arrest of the two suspects, saying they had earlier been tipped by some residents who knew about the illegal distilling at Kabango’s home.
“With this tip off from residents we conducted a targeted operation and found the two men distilling kanyanga,” said Kayigi.
The officer strongly warned residents against consumption of illegal substances, saying that Police will be unrelenting in its operations to bring to book those involved in the offences.
“Illicit substances pose a serious security threat in communities. Dealing with the vice requires combined efforts of security organs with the public,” Kayigi said, challenging residents to always pass on quick information to security organs to arrest not only offenders, but prevention of other criminal offences in general.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson highlighted assault, theft, rape and defilement as some of the criminal offences fueled by substance abuse.
He requested parents to play a leading role in the fight against substance abuse by ensuring that their children are closely monitored with a view to protecting them from engaging in it.
Under article 594, paragraph 2, 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 between Frw 500,000 and Frw 5million.
