Rwanda National Police

A bus driver was arrested on Monday in Rulindo District after Police officers found a bag containing narcotics in the vehicle he was driving.

Emmanuel Ngerageze, 63, was intercepted in Bushoki Sector along Rulindo-Kigali road. The vehicle was headed to Kigali from Rubavu District.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region said that the bag contained 2100 pellets of cannabis.

“Police officers on their usual duty stopped the bus, searched and discovered a bag loaded with pellets of cannabis. According to an informer, the bag belongs to the driver. We handed him over to RIB (Rwanda Investigation Bureau) at Bushoki station in Rulindo,” CIP Rugigana said.

“We are aware that some drivers are drug dealers or facilitate drug traffickers by transporting their narcotics,” he added, warning of “continued crackdown on anyone involved in drug related crimes.”

He called upon the general public to strengthen their partnership and information on drug dealers.

The Western region is mapped out as one of the major transit routes especially in its districts of Rubavu and Rusizi.

Another public service vehicle was intercepted recently along Rubavu-Musanze highway with 2, 046 pellets of cannabis weighing 60kgs. Two alleged traffickers including the driver were taken into custody.

Over 300, 000 pellets of cannabis valued at over Rwf60 million have been seized in separate Police operations conducted in Rusizi in the last three months.

In April, ANU also intercepted 125kgs and 1230 rolls of cannabis from two traffickers in Rubavu.

Under article 263 of the penal code, any person who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence. Upon conviction, he or she is liable to between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine between Rwf15 million and Rwf30 million.

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