{The intensified campaign against trafficking, sell and use of narcotic drugs in Nyagatare District led to the seizure of banned gin which include 500 cartons of Chief Waragi and about 650 litres of crude waragi commonly known as kanyanga.}
According to Senior Supt. Safari Christian, the District Police Commander, the illicit substances worth over Rwf9.2 million, were seized in intensified operations conducted in the last two months.
The drugs were destroyed recently in presence of hundreds of residents and students, an event normally used to further sensitise the general population on the dangers of consuming such harmful substances, and repercussions involved including imprisonment.
“Most of these contrabands impounded in December and January, were recovered from dealers red-handed after members of the public informed us, and actually provided detailed information on either traffickers, sellers or consumers,” said SSP Safari.
Nyagatare is said to be the transit route for trafficked illicit gin that also include zebra, blue sky and kotoko.
“We are seeing a big impact of the awareness campaigns, the public especially those residing along the border where the substances are trafficked through illegal borders, give us credible information,” he added.
Those arrested include motorcyclists, who are hired by traffickers to transport the branded narcotic drugs.
Article 24 of the law on narcotics 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.
Growing, selling, transformation, transportation, storage and consumption of narcotic drugs are prohibited under article 593 and punishable under article 594, with a term of imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of Rwf500,000 to Rwf5 million.
SSP Safari urged the residents to maintain the spirit to break that supply chain as means to prevent consumption.
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