Police in Kigali seized 9,600 sachets of illicit gin, branded Kitoko and Kicks, said to have been trafficked into the country through porous borders.

The sachets, which were concealed in 80 boxes, were recovered on Thursday morning from a bar in Muhima Sector of Nyarugenge District belonging to one Antoine Ngoga, who has since been taken into custody pending further investigations.

Emmanuel Hitayezu, Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said police officers raided the bar after getting information from a member of the public.

"We received information from a concerned member of the public that Ngoga had brought 84 boxes of the illicit gin and hid it somewhere in his bar in Muhima and indeed when police officers arrived there, they recovered 80 boxes hidden in one of the bar stores,” said Hitayezu.

At the time, he added, the suspect had already sold four boxes.

"Ngoga was running wholesale as well as retail business. We have since learnt that he works with some people in Uganda, who deliver the contraband to him through porous borders,” he explained.

Hitayezu said Ngoga is also facing charges of attempted bribery.

"When police officers confiscated the exhibits – boxes of illicit gin – Ngoga had escaped arrest but later tried to offer a bribe of Rwf200,000 through another person and police officers insisted to meet him in person, which resulted into his arrest,” he said.

Police appealed to the public to deal in lawful business, noting illicit drugs will not be tolerated whatsoever.

"They are classified as narcotic drugs which have ill effects on people’s health and that’s why Rwanda National Police has strengthened efforts through community policing to fight them,” Hitayezu said.

"When these substances are seized, they are destroyed and this is a loss to the owner. Let people venture into lawful businesses that don’t bring losses and even imprisonment.”

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