They were arrested in separate coordinated operations conducted on Monday and Tuesday in Gasabo and Nyarugenge districts.
They are Therese Nyirankundakwizera, 40, and Vestine Dukuzumuremyi, 22, both arrested on Monday, February 8, in Kinyinya Sector of Gasabo District with 300 pellets of cannabis.
One Seraphine Muhawenimana, 26, was apprehended on Tuesday, February 9, in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District in possession of 2,546 pellets of cannabis.
The District Police Commander (DPC) for Gasabo, Superintendent of Police (SP) Octave Mutembe said that the suspects were arrested due to a tip off by local residents.
“Residents of Kinyinya reported on Monday, that Nyirankundakwizera is a dealer in narcotic drugs. Police rushed to her home, took her into custody, and disclosed her supplier as Vestine Dukuzumuremyi, who hails from Kimironko sector, who was at the time on her way to bring more narcotics,” SP Mutembe said.
“Dukuzumuremyi arrived shortly after with 300 pellets of cannabis to supply them to Nyirankundakwizera, she was also taken into custody and the narcotics seized,” he added.
After her arrest, Dukuzumuremyi also revealed that she got the narcotics from one Seraphine Muhawenimana, who hails from Musanze District.
ANU got credible information that Muhawenimana was to bring more consignments of cannabis on the next day, Tuesday, February 8, to supply Dukuzumuremyi.
ANU trailed Muhawenimana to Nyabugogo in Nyarugenge District, where she was arrested on arrival with 2,546 pellets of cannabis.
Muhawenimana also disclosed that she sneaks the narcotics into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The successful act comes on heels of increasing operations in different parts of the country where major drug dealers have been arrested, an impact attributed to the growing ownership of the public through community policing.
The suspects and exhibits were handed over to RIB for further legal process.
Cannabis is listed among very severe drugs in Rwanda.
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 for “very severe narcotics,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
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