Kenyan authorities have extradited a Rwandan national suspected of trying to sneak cocaine into Rwanda.

Javier Desire Ndisabiye, who had eluded Police arrest in Kigali, was apprehended by Kenya police at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in November, last year, after he attempted to reroute his flight schedule from Sao Paolo, Brazil, following the arrest of his two alleged accomplices in Kigali.

Ndisabiye, along with Sostene Izibyayo and Eric Rukundo, who were both arrested at Kigali International Airport in last November, are accused of attempting to traffic 7.4 kilogrammes of cocaine into the country.

The drugs, in 14 packs, were at the time concealed in ladies’ bags found in Izibyayo's luggage.Both Izibyayo, who was traveling on a Belgian passport and Ndisabiye, are said to have been in transit from Sao Paulo, Brazil through Doha and Dakar.

Police Spokesperson Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa attributed their arrest to the "fruits of police cooperation," which has also seen about 10 other suspected drug dealers arrested since August last year, for either trafficking cocaine into the country or trying to use Rwanda as a transit route.

"After we arrested his accomplices on arrival at Kigali International Airport, Ndisabiye, who was still in transit to Rwanda, tried to flee, but Interpol Kigali notified their counterparts in Nairobi and he was arrested on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport," said CSP Twahirwa.

"Since then, the two friendly police forces have been processing extradition papers until Kenya executed the extradition” he added.

He said cocaine and other hardcore narcotics like heroine are rare cases in Rwanda, but added that Police remains "vigilant and confident that Rwanda can neither be a transit nor a destination for illicit drugs."

Under article 594 of the Rwandan Penal Code, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, is liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and/or a fine of Rwf500, 000 to Rwf5 million.

However, if the criminal acts are committed internationally, penalties are doubled.

Investigations established that the suspects were trafficking cocaine through Rwanda to Europe.

CSP Twahirwa commended the existing cooperation between Rwanda and Kenya Police forces in responding to cross-border crimes.

At least five vehicles stolen from Kenya have been intercepted in Rwanda since last year.

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