Residents of Kirehe District, on Friday, intercepted two drug deals called Emmanuel Ntibaziganya, 28, and Matata Theogene, 30, who were trafficking over 50 kilogrammes of cannabis into the country.

According to the Police spokesperson for the Eastern Region, Inspector of Police (IP) Emmanuel Kayigi, Ntibaziganya was intercepted and reported by fishermen on Rushonga bridge as he crossed into Rwanda from Tanzania with 20 kilogrammes of cannabis.

IP Kayigi said the fishermen, who were at the time fishing in River Akagera, became suspicious after spotting Ntibaziganya carrying a sack.

"Out of suspicion, they first abandoned what they were doing, stopped him, only to find that the sack was full of cannabis. They apprehended him, called the police immediately and officers arrived shortly after and took up the case,” IP Kayigi said.

Another suspect; Matata, was arrested in Gahara Sector after a resident called the police.

"One of Matata’s neighbours who suspected him of dealing in narcotic drugs, had for long kept an eye on him to clear his suspicions; on the day if arrest, he saw Matata sneaking into a house with a sack at night, he called the police and on searching the house, officers recovered a sack with about 30kgs of cannabis; he was immediately taken into custody,” Kayigi said.

He commended the role the public play in crime detection, prevention and fighting through timely information sharing especially on drug dealers.

On several occasion, drivers of public vehicles along Kayonza-Rusumo highway have intercepted drug traffickers attempting to use the public means to transport the drugs to Kigali.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) operations and awareness against drug dealers have been intensified in prone border districts including Kirehe, especially focusing on breaking the chain of supply.