Rwanda National Police

Separate Police operations against drug trafficking conducted on Sunday, mainly in Nyanza and Gisagara districts led to the arrest of three suspected drug traffickers.

The suspects were at the time found with varied quantities of illegal brews commonly known as ‘Muriture’ and 118 pellets of cannabis.

Two of the Suspects identified as Joseph Musonera, 42, and Pierre Misigaro, 34 were arrested separately in Kigoma and Ntyazo sectors of Nyanza District.

The third suspect, Alexia Nzamurambaho, 26 was arrested in Kigembe Sector of Gisagara District.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for southern region said that the arrest followed a tip-off from local residents about the traffickers’ illicit activities. He commended citizens’ contribution in efforts to break drug trafficking rings.

“We attribute such successful operations to intensified community policing activities and information sharing with the public. They timely share information on suspicious drug dealers and illegal distillers,” he said.

CIP Twajamahoro added, “The operations against drug abuse are mainly geared towards breaking the chains of supply. The best part in this fight is that the public has owned the process and they are the main source of information on suppliers, routes and stores in their communities, which is a big step forward.”

The arrests and seizure of drugs come as Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the public are mainly focusing on identifying and arresting traffickers as an effective way to prevent abuse of the psychotropic substances.

“This is part of the RNP countrywide intensified operations against drug abuse but with main focus on suppliers; by breaking the supply chain, you will be preventing and dealing with the root cause,” said CIP Twajamahoro.

He advised people to deal and consume other legalized alcoholic drinks instead of dealing in harmful substances that threaten people’s lives and wellbeing in general.

“The operations will continue and we appeal to the people, our major partners, to continue providing information on the dealers until all those engaged are either arrested or they refrain from such criminal activities,” the spokesperson noted.

Article 263 of the penal code states that, “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 a term of imprisonment between seven years and life and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.