Rwanda National Police

Two suspected drug dealers were on Sunday, June 26, arrested in Nyamagabe District in possession of 773 pellets of cannabis.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Southern region Police spokesperson, identified the suspects as Annonciatha Mukagatera, 37, and Edouard Niyonsaba, 58, who were arrested in Bamba Village, Kavumu Cell of Kaduha sector following a tip-off by local residents.

"Police acted on the information provided by residents in Bamba village that Mukagatera was supplying cannabis and had a store at Niyonsaba?s home," SP Kanamugire said.

He added: "Police first searched Niyonsaba?s house where 773 pellets of cannabis were recovered in his bedroom, and they took him into custody.

Niyonsaba indeed told the Police officers that the narcotics belong to Mukagatera, who was also located and arrested."

According to Niyonsaba, Mukagatera was using his house to conceal her criminal business and would only collect the quantity ordered by clients.

SP Kanamugire thanked the residents, who reported the criminal act to facilitate the national efforts against drugs.

The suspects and exhibits were handed over to RIB at Kaduha station for further investigations.

The Ministerial order n? 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis in the category of "very severe narcotics.??

Article 263 of law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general 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 for "very severe narcotics," the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Frw20 million and Frw30 million.