This Monday, in a Police-led operation, about 9000 liters of locally made brew were seized and disposed of in Rwamagana District.
The psychotropic substances were disposed of in Gahengeri Sector in presence of hundreds of residents as police and local leaders conveyed a message against the criminal practice.
The poured substance was from a distillery owned by Bosco MUSIGWA, who was operating illegal distilleries called ‘Gubwaneza Munyarwanda.’
The Mayor of Rwamagana District, Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi, while addressing the residents after pouring the substances, warned them against the practice, but thanked those who continue working with the Police to identify and arrest drug dealers.
“These substances are unhealthy, they pose a threat to security, as consumers are exposed to their untested content brewed from potentially harmful raw materials let alone the lack of hygiene during the illegal brewing process,” Mayor Mbonyumuvunyi told the residents.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Eastern region Police spokesperson warned that only licensed distilleries are allowed to operate within the set standards by Rwanda Standards Bureau (RBS) that include raw materials used and packaging, among others.
“There are set health and legal standards to start a brewery, which also prescribes the raw materials that are not harmful to consumers, and should be followed; contrary to that you are breaking the law,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
RSB set standard requirements include labeling (name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer); net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instructions; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order, among others.
The spokesperson said that Rwanda National Police will keep on doing operations and arrest all drug related criminal. He also called for continued partnership with the public and sharing information of drug traffickers and distillers of illicit drinks.