Four suspected drug traffickers have been arrested in separate security operations conducted on Wednesday in Rubavu and Rusizi districts.

They were at the time found with varied quantities of narcotic drugs.

Two of the suspects; Jean-Marie Vianney Nzamuye, 36, and one only identified as Tuyisenge were arrested in Busasamana Sector in Rubavu with 36kg of cannabis, police said.

"Nzamuye and Tuyisenge were intercepted by a community night patrol at about 4am, and handed them over to Police together with their exihibts,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, the Western region Police spokesperson, said.

The duo said they sneaked the drugs into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming to have been hired to take the drugs to Kigali where they would meet the owner.

They could, however, not identify or give particulars of the alleged owner.

The other two suspects; Edouard Habiyaremye, 35, and Cyprien Uwizeyimana, 20, were arrested in Gihundwe Sector of Rusizi District with 10kg of cannabis, police said.

CIP Gasasira said the arrest of Habiyaremye and Uwizeyimana followed a tip-off from a commercial motorcyclists.

"Community night patrols and the strong partnership with the people continue to play a central role in identifying drug dealers, which informs successful police operations based on real and timely information,” Gasasira said.

Rubavu and Rusizi districts are mapped as major transit routes for drug dealers.

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