The Rwanda National Police has called upon the general public to join efforts in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse, which it says is a major contributor to other crimes. The call follows the seizure of over 80 kilogrammes of cannabis in Kicukiro District and over 1,000 litres of an illegal gin, commonly known as kanyanga, in Gicumbi District on Thursday. Two brothers were taken into custody in connection with the seized narcotics after they were recovered in their house in Nyakabanda Cell in Niboye Sector. One of the brothers is said to have been imprisoned about five times in connection with drugs and his wife is also currently serving a sentence at Kigali Central Prison commonly known as 1930 after she was convicted of trafficking cannabis. Four people, who include a woman and three commercial motorcycle operators, were also arrested after they were caught red-handed transporting the illicit gin, and their motorcycles confiscated. Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare, the Police Spokesperson, said though the Force has devised stringent measures against the vice, there is still need for all Rwandans to own it by sharing information on people in their communities dealing in drugs and other illegal substances. “There is still a loophole among the public in fighting drug trafficking and consumption, especially in communities where dealers and abusers hide,” ACP Gatare said. “Traffickers use porous borders to sneak illicit drugs into the country. We should join efforts to ensure that there are no more drugs smuggled into the country by tightening security and providing information on people involved,” he added. Common drugs in Rwanda include cannabis, kanyanga and chief waragi said to be trafficked from the neighbouring countries and local brew prepared out of sorghum and sugarcane residues. Drug trafficking and use is punishable under article 594 of the penal code attracting a jail term of up to five years upon conviction.
