RWAMAGANA – At least five people who were recently arrested in a security swoop in Rwamagana town, have been charged with drug abuse.

The Kigabiro First Instance Court on Tuesday remanded the suspects at Nsinda Prison for 30 days.

Prosecution alleges that Straton Shema and Saidi Nsabimana, were arrested after being found with marijuana in their homes, while Clarisse Nyiraneza and Mercianne Nyirabudeyi, all residents of Rwamagana, were caught with illicit alcohol, locally known as Kanyanga. 

The fifth suspect from Kirehe District is said to have been found transporting marijuana to Kigali city.

They are part of a group of 200 suspects who were screened after being arrested last week, in an early morning security swoop.

Two of the suspects pleaded guilty to the charges, while the rest denied.

While pressing charges against the accused prosecution said that all the suspects have cases to answer and should be detained pending investigations.

"The majority of these suspects have been in this court before for similar charges. We thus plead that bail be denied to the accused,” the prosecutor told the judge.

According to the district security officials, drug abuse and illicit alcohol related crimes, still pose a great challenge to local authorities.

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