Police seize 80 boxes of trafficked banned gin

{Police in the City of Kigali has seized 9600 sachets of illicit gin called Kitoko and kicks said to have been trafficked into the country through fraudulent means.}

The sachets which were concealed in 80 boxes were recovered on Thursday morning from a bar in Muhima Sector of Nyarugenge District belonging to one Antoine Ngoga, who has since been taken into custody pending further investigations.

According to Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, police officers searched the bar after getting credible information from a member of the public.

“We received information from a concerned member of the public that Ngoga had brought 84 boxes of the illicit gin and hidden somewhere in his bar in Muhima and indeed when police officers arrived there, they recovered 80 boxes hidden in one of the bar stores,” said Supt. Hitayezu.

At the time, he said, the suspect had already sold four boxes.

“Ngoga was running wholesale as well as selling sachets to some of his customers. We have since learnt that he works with some people in Uganda, who deliver these contrabands to him through illegal borders,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Supt. Hitayezu said that Ngoga is also facing charges of attempted bribery,

“When police officers confiscate the exhibits – boxes of illicit gin – Ngoga had escaped arrest but later tried to give them a bribe of Rwf200, 000 through another person and police officers insisted to meet him in person which resulted into his arrest,” he said.

“We appeal to the public to deal in lawful business because these illicit drugs will not be tolerated whatsoever. They are classified as narcotic drugs which have ill effects on people’s health and that’s why Rwanda National Police has strengthened all efforts through community policing to fight them,” he said.

“When these substances are seized, they are destroyed and this is a loss to the owner. Let people venture their money in lawful businesses that doesn’t bring losses and even imprisonment.”

Article 24 of the law governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in Rwanda states that “any drink that exceeds forty five percent of alcohol and any other drink which doesn’t have the required quality for consumption shall be considered as narcotic drug.”