Rwanda National Police

Separate Police operations in the Gatsibo and Rusizi districts on Wednesday yielded to the seizure of assorted illicit drugs and arrest of three people in connection with the illegal act.

One of the drug dealers identified as John Munyaneza was arrested in Kabarore Sector in Gatsibo transporting 2400 bottles of a locally distilled illicit brew called Gubwaneza.
 
Munyaneza was at the time transporting the illicit drinks in the vehicle UBB 857N, which was also impounded to Kabarore RIB station where the suspect is also detained, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.

“The drinks did not have the required standard specifications and legal documents as recommended by Rwanda Standards Board,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

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 instruction; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order.

In Rusizi, Emmanuel Hakizimana and Deny Urwinkunda were arrested in Kamembe sector, Kamashangi Cell, Rushakamba Village in possession of 290 pellets of cannabis.

Article 263 of the new law determining offences and penalties in general, states that any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, and faces a sentence of between 20 years and life in prison.

The arrest of the trio comes at the time when Rwanda National Police (RNP) and partners are actively engaged in countrywide awareness campaigns against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the first week of the Police Month.