{The general public should refrain from consuming illicit brew, which will facilitate effective response on the sell of harmful substances as dealers will lose market, Police said.}
The call follows an operation against drug abuse conducted on December 13 when police in Karongi District raided a distillery in a trading centre in Bihumbe Cell of Twumba Sector, where they seized about 520 litres of Makokeri, a locally made illicit brew, distilled out of mixed bricks, sugar and water.
As a norm, the illicit substances were destroyed in presence of hundreds of area residents, in the spirit of discouraging making and sell of narcotic drugs.
Inspector of Police (IP) Aphrodise Habiyaremye, while speaking at the public destruction exercise, warned against manufacture and consumption of such substances, and urged them to join efforts to fight them by reporting those involved.
“Making these illicit substances is one thing and consuming them is another, because the law penalizes both people,” IP Habiyaremye said.
Growing, selling, transformation, transportation, storage and consumption of narcotic drugs are prohibited under article 593 of the penal code.
Under article 594, any person who, unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of Rwf500, 000 to Rwf5 million.
Article 24 of the law on narcotics also states that “any drink that exceeds 45 percent of alcohol, and any other drink which doesn’t have the required quality for consumption, shall be considered as narcotic drug.”
By refraining from consuming these substances, IP Habiyaremye noted that they will be breaking the supply chain and setting an example against drug abuse.
One of the residents, Emmanuel Uwimpaye, said: “People who use these illicit substances are the ones causing insecurity in our community, so we have to fight them through all ways.”
Another resident, Simon Bazigira said: “We have been explained on the side effects of these drugs, and the security issues they bring about. Our role to fight them should is required because by doing so, we will be doing for ourselves and for the safety of our communities.”
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