Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) has arrested five people in separate operations targeting major drug dealers.

They were arrested in separate operations conducted on Tuesday, April 13, in Rubavu, Rulindo and Gasabo districts.

In Rubavu, one only identified as Munyaneza was intercepted in Nyamirango Cell of Kanzenze Sector with 2,363 pellets of cannabis.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said Munyaneza was reported by a reformed drug dealer and addict.

"As many young people continue to take the right direction from dealing or abusing drugs, some of them take further steps to report those who were supplying them. 

This is how Munyaneza was identified and arrested red-handed with a bundle of 2363 pellets of cannabis after one of his former customers, who has since quit drugs, provided ANU with credible information about his criminal drug business," CIP Karekezi said.

Following his arrest, Munyaneza, a resident of Busasamana also in Rubavu District, disclosed that he has been operating a drug business for a while now.

He added that he was trafficking the narcotics into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and supplying retailers in different parts of the country, eapecially in City of Kigali.

According to Munyaneza, he had casual workers, who were responsible for ensuring that consignments of cannabis are sneaked into Rwanda from DRC, and delivered to his clients.

One of his employees was also arrested recently with over 6000 pellets of cannabis.

 Meanwhile, four other drug dealers arrested by ANU on the same day include the duo of Damascene Ntabanganyimana alias Tafu, 33, and Alex Hakizimana, 26, who were intercepted in Rudogo Cell, Cyinzuzi Sector in Rulindo District with 8kgs of cannabis.

They were at the time travelling on a motorcycle plate number RD 456Z, which was also impounded. They further disclosed that they get the narcotics from Uganda and that the motorcycle was being used to supply their retailing clients. 

Again in Rulindo, ANU recovered 184 pellets of cannabis in the house of one Marthe Mukandezi located in Murambi Sector, Gatwa Cell.

In Gasabo District, one Jean Robert Ndungutse was arrested in Kacyiru Sector, Kamatamu Cell with a consignment of cannabis.

All the suspects were handed over to RIB.

Cannabis is listed as a "very severe drug" in Rwanda with a sentence, upon conviction, ranging between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of between Frw20 million and Frw30 million, under article 263 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general.