In Rwanda, production of alcoholic beverages is regulated by laws and rules. All alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws are classified as ‘simple narcotic drugs’ under article 5 of the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) specifies that “only food-grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”
All drinks with an alcoholic content exceeding 45 percent as well as all those without the standard mark (S-Mark) issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) are classified as narcotics.
In Huye District, efforts to fight production and sell of illicit drinks continue to yield positive results.
On Sunday, April 3, Rwanda National Police (RNP) and local authorities seized and disposed of 1878 litres of illicit brew.
At least 1440 litres of illicit brew locally known as ‘Umuzabibu’ were seized from one Athanase Sibomana, 31, and 438 litres of ‘Intashyo’ seized from Jean Pierre Rugomoka, 45, both in Berwa Village, Gitwa Cell, Mbazi Sector.
This is one of many other successful operations against psychotropic substances in Huye, according to the District Police Commander (DPC), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Boniface Kagenza.
“Last year, with the help of residents and local leaders, we seized over 68,900 litres of assorted illicit brew from 406 dealers, which were disposed of. Between January and March this year, we have seized 10,758 litres of illicit brew from 63 dealers,” said SSP Kagenza.
These substances, the DPC said, are mainly common in the sectors of Tumba, Huye, Gishamvu, Ruhashya, Simbi and Mbazi, where many distillers have been arrested.
“Due to strong collaboration and cooperation with residents through community policing, there is easy flow of information on people with illegal production plants in their homes and bars that sell these harmful drinks. This helps the Police in its operations against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,” said SSP Kagenza.
He warned that these operations are continuous and advised residents to venture into legal businesses instead of wasting their resources in acts that will result into “preventable losses and Imprisonment.”
Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple narcotic drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.
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