Rwanda National Police

Separate operations against drug trafficking in the Northern Province on Sunday intercepted two people, who had sneaked assorted substances into the country through porous borders.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Northern region Police spokesperson, the suspects arrested in Rulindo and Gicumbi districts were at the time found with quantities of cannabis and boxes of Zebra gin as well as other smuggled goods.

“One of the suspects identified as Ngizwenayo Martin, 28, was arrested in Rulindo at a check-point mounted jointly by Buskoki Police station and Kinihira RIB station, with 9000 pellets of cannabis and assorted smuggled goods that included foodstuff and food spices. He was traveling in a RITCO bus enroute to Kigali,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

“Other two suspects were intercepted separately in Cyumba and Rushaki sectors of Gicumbi with combined 27 boxes of Zebra gin, although one of the suspects managed to escape,” he added.

Under article 263 of the new penal code, any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits faces an imprisonment of between seven years and life, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.

“These joint operations are mainly based on credible information we receive from the people geared toward breaking chains of supply,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

He called for continued partnership and information sharing on suppliers of narcotic drugs so that they are arrested, and to save the young people from the menace of substances.