The group called ‘Abarembetsi’ was intercepted on Tuesday, February 22, in Kanyenzugi Village, Nyirataba Cell of Kivuye Sector.
The District Police Commander (DPC) for Burera, Superintendent of Police (SP) Aphrodis Nkundineza said that the ring managed to flee back to the same direction after seeing the Police, leaving sacks of kanyanga behind.
“It was a big group who belong to a racket of Abarembetsi. They had crossed crossed into Rwanda through a porous border with over 200 litres of kanyanga packed in banned polythene bags and concealed in sacks,” SP Nkundineza said.
The outlawed illicit gin was later disposed of in a public exercise.
SP Nkundineza warned those involved in such criminal activities and thanked residents, who continue to facilitate successful police operations against drug traffickers through credible information sharing.
He further called upon residents to share information on members of Abarembetsi to dismantle the ring and their criminal acts.
Article 5 of the Ministerial order Nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws; on the list of simple narcotic drugs.
Article 263 of law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years and a fine of not less than Rwf5 million and less than Rwf10 million in regard to “simple narcotics.”
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