Rwanda National Police

Separate operations conducted in Ruhango and Kamonyi districts on Thursday seized 1170 litres of assorted illicit brew from illegal distilleries.

The substances called Ibikwangari and Muriture were seized from four distillers, who were also arrested.

Muriture and Ibikwangari are classified as a narcotic drug in Rwanda. Ibikwangari is made out of mixed sugarcane residues, industrial fertilizers and other raw materials, which are harmful to human health. Like Ibikwangari, Muriture is also distilled out of industrial fertilizers, dissolved bricks, water, sugarcane residues, banana juice, water and sugar among others.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, Police spokesperson for the Southern region, the four suspects were arrested following complaints raised by local residents.

The spokesperson identified the suspects as Anatole Ndayambaje, Francine Nikuze, Emmanuel Kanani and Solange Mukandayisenga.

“Three of the suspects were arrested in Kigabiro village of Nyamagana cell in Ruhango while another suspect was apprehended in Gacurabwenge sector in Kamonyi. They had illegal distilleries producing illicit substances, which they were selling to other local bars,” CIP Twajamahoro said.

The seized substances were disposed of in presence of residents, where Police and local leaders also took an opportunity to educate them on dangers of consuming the illicit brew and effects to distillers as well as their role in reporting distillers.

RNP, Rwanda Standards Bureau (RSB) and local leaders are conducting operations against illegal distilleries. RSB specifies that “only food-grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”

Other standard requirements include labeling as a prerequisite; the name of the products, physical and postal address of the 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 accordance with article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, the Minister of Health specifies a penalty of about Rwf5 million to anyone caught distilling illicit drinks, closing the illegal distillery and facing courts of law.

Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, producing, trafficking or selling simple narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances attracts an imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years.