Three arrested during Umuganda for dealing in illicit brew

{Rwanda National Police (RNP) continued its campaign against drugs and narcotics with the arrest of three people found consuming illicit brew in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District. }

The three suspects were apprehended in a bar on Saturday March 28, while the rest of the community had gone to participate in the monthly “Umuganda” community service program.

The bar belongs to one of the arrested suspects, Leodomille Ntirenganya, 39, who was found serving dangerous brews locally known as Kanyanga and Mariture.

He alongside the other two suspects, Aphrodis Kayiranga and Alphonse Ndayambaje are detained at Kanombe Police Station as further investigations commence.

During this operation, Police also confiscated thee liters of Kanyanga, 200 liters of other illicit brews, as well as distilling equipment used in their manufacture.

“It is surprising that some individuals prefer to engage in criminal activities when the rest have gone to participate in nation-building programs. It is such people who end up trying to destroy what Rwandans have managed to gain through their hard work,” Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, the Police Spokesperson for Central Region said.

“Police calls on all people living in Rwanda to adhere to the rule of law and desist from consuming or dealing in drugs and narcotics. When it is the day of Umuganda, it is a patriotic decision to participate with the rest of the community in development activities rather than try to exploit the day by pursuing unlawful endeavors.”

SP Mbabazi also commended community residents for providing timely alerts to Police, which has aided successful operations to prevent and solve criminal acts.

In a related development, an ongoing Police campaign against drugs and narcotics in Kirehe District, Eastern Province, on March 27, arrested four suspected drug dealers with 8 kilograms of cannabis.

The Eastern Province Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Kayigi, said that the operation is conducted in partnership with residents in the area, who have played a big role in identifying drug dealers who particularly target youth customers.

Under article 594 of the Rwandan Penal Code, any person who unlawfully makes, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country faces a prison sentence of three to five years and a fine between Rwf500, 000 and Rwf5 million.