120kgs of narcotics seized in Nyarugenge

In the ongoing country wide Police swoop to fight the trade in and use of illicit drugs, 120 kilogrammes and over 17500 pellets of cannabis have been recovered in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District in the City of Kigali.The narcotics and 20 litres of illicit brew (Kanyanga) were seized in the ongoing operation codenamed Operation Hope, on September 29.The campaign, conducted by Rwanda National Police, is in conjunction the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO) and Interpol.The operation targets narcotic drugs, human trafficking and wildlife crimes carried in the eastern Africa region thus becoming a focal point before they are transported to Asia, Europe and North America. During the operation in Nyarugenge, one particular suspect who is 29 years was arrested with 1542 pellets of cannabis.The operation follows a similar one last week that saw 80 people arrested and 185 kilogrammes of cannabis seized.According to Police cannabis and kanyanga are struggled into the country from the neighbouring countries and are said to be facilitated by the nature of borders which are porous.Drug abuse is a crime whose sentence, upon conviction, is an imprisonment term of six months to two years and a fine of Rwf1, 000, 000 to Rwf5, 000, 000 or one of these penalties as stipulated under article 593 and 598 of the penal code.