Rwanda National Police

Police and local authorities in Nyagatare District have foiled different groups of drug dealers that were attempting to traffic Kanyanga, a crude illicit gin, into Rwanda.

The traffickers were intercepted in Tabagwe and Kiyombe sectors on Sunday, December 27, with over 250 litres of the banned gin, combined.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that the drinks classified as narcotic drugs in Rwanda, were seized from three different groups, some of whose members were arrested during the separate operations.

At least 160 litres were seized from two different groups of traffickers in Gasheshe and Kagarama villages of Tabagwe Sector. Other 91 litres were seized from two traffickers identified as Innocent Biziyaremye and Jean Claude Ndacyayisenga in Izinga village, Gitenga Cell of Kiyombe sector.

“It has been a while since Police last intercepted such quantity of Kanyanga in one day. Due to increased operations against Kanyanga as a psychotropic drink, the rate of trafficking has tremendously reduced, as most of the dealers were arrested. It is now rare to find such quantities as majority of dealers we arrest are found with not more than 10 litres,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

According to the spokesperson, the successful operations are largely attributed to the impact of community policing, which facilitates information sharing on dealers, routes and tricks used.

“Nyagatare, being on the borderline with Uganda, is prone to kanyanga traffickers, but due to the strong partnership with residents, Police responds to information provided by the people about dealers, and this is the same way the over 250 litres were intercepted and some of the traffickers arrested on Sunday,” he said.

He warned that these are continuous operations to break chains of kanyanga supply and sell in local bars.

Kanyanga is listed among simple narcotic drugs under Ministerial Order Nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
 
Article 5 of the Ministerial Order defines simple narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and unauthorized drinks as alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws; chemical substances whose original intended use has been altered, and applied as narcotic drug.

Anyone convicted for simple narcotic drugs under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, face between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Frw5 million and Frw10 million.