{As part of the campaign against drugs, Police officers operating in the Southern Province have intensified their crackdown against people who produce illicit alcoholic substances.}
In the last one week, the crackdown has seen officers seize scores of illegal brew.
According to the Southern Region Police spokesperson Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) André Hakizimana, the operations are line with the week long campaign launched in partnership with Ministry of health to fight illicit drugs.
“Whenever we seize illegal alcoholic substances or anything that is not licensed to be consumed, we arrest the producers than take samples of the substances to a laboratory for testing. If the results come out with 0.5 methanol and above, then that is considered a drug. We immediately process a case file and transfer it to the prosecution,” said CIP Hakizimana.
He went on to say that, “People need to know that the reason behind regulating alcohol content is to protect them from substances that may be harmful to their health; this is why, as police, we have a mandate to ensure no one produces such substances.”
The regional spokesperson pointed out that there has been increase in public perception towards understanding dangers of such substances and reporting them.
“The rate at which people give us information about those producing the illegal substances is increasing, this is why the numbers of seizures and arrests also go up,” he said.
The substances seized in Gisagara District on June 28, including 14,000 liters of illegal brew commonly known as ‘Nyirantare’. Police also arrested Joseph Akimana, Martin Nkejekomine and Viateur Sebuhabure, the producers of Nyirantare.
On the same day, in Kamonyi district, police closed a non-licensed distillery plant that was producing an illegal brew known as Kambuca. Police also unmasked 800liters of Kambuca at the plant and arrested its owner Jean Marie Vianney Munyankumburwa.
The following day, June 29, police in Huye District destroyed 558 liters of Kanyanga, and illicit gin, 189 liters of muriture, an illegal brew, 21 kilograms of cannabis and several other substances that were seized in different operations.
According to CIP Hakizimana, illicit substances have links with other crimes and effects on people’s wellbeing and development.
“Every citizen should understand the consequences related to drug abuse and be more determined to fight them… Do not connive or shield those who break the law…always endeavour to work with Police and local authorities to identify those who manufacture and deal in illicit substances.”
He cited a ministerial order nº20/35 of 09/6/2015 determining unauthorized drinks and other controlled substances classified as narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors saying that the outlawed substances affects one’s thinking and productivity thus affecting the nation.
Article 594 of the penal code stipulates in its second paragraph that, 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 up to five year years and a fine of up to Rwf5 million.
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