Police in Nyabihu District is holding two people who were arrested in connection with trafficking 1000 sachets of Sky Blue, a banned gin in Rwanda.
The suspects identified as Esther Mushimiyimana and Pacifique Ndayishimiye were arrested on April 10, in Jenda Sector during an operation targeting smugglers of illegal substances.
The two were using public means to move the gin from Musanze to Rubavu. They are currently at Jenda Police station.
In a another police operation in the same district, officers arrested Hadija Mukamuganga smuggling nine pieces of traditional wear commonly known as kitenge from Rubavu aboard a coaster bus heading for Kigali.
The suspect was arrested at a police checkpoint mounted around Kageri village, Kora Cell, of Bigogwe Sector. It is suspected that Mukamuganga may have acquired the items from DR Congo and smuggled them in the country without paying taxes.
She is also held at Jenda police station as police continue with investigations in the two cases.
Reacting to the arrests, the District Police Commander (DPC) Superintendent of Police (SP) Alexis Fata said that police was acting on some leads from the public about people that may be transporting illegal substances.
He said that the operations were largely successful due to information provided from residents, which is an indication of continued strong partnership between the force and residents to collectively preserve order,peace,safety and security.
With regards to Blue Sky, SP Fata said that most of them and similar illegal substances are sneaked into the country through Musanze District around Cyanika area through non- gazetted crossing points and distributed around the region.
“Smuggling illicit gin into the country cannot be tolerated…Let us continue working together through community policing to overcome the vice,” said SP Fata.
He pointed out that, “We are aware of all the tricks they use to smuggle them; there are times they bury sachets of banned gin in sacks of flour or maize or sometimes wrap them around their bodies.”
On the case of Mukamuganga the DPC said that she is accused of tax evasion an offense that is punishable with an imprisonment of six months and a fine equal to the evaded tax.
With regards to the two suspects in custody over illicit gin, the DPC pointed out that Blue Sky is on the list of narcotic drugs and illegal substances that are banned in Rwanda.
The substance are banned by the ministerial order nº20/35 of 09/6/2015 determining unauthorized drinks and other controlled substances classified as narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.
SP Fata pointed out that any person found with drugs or any of the mentioned substance is liable to punishment as stated in article 594 of the penal code. The article reads in part that any person who unlawfully, makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rwf 5 million.
“This crime damages the welfare of the citizens by contributing to commission of a number of other crimes, drug abusers involve in domestic and gender based violence, child abuse, assault, theft, carrying unwanted pregnancies and early parenthood, school drop-outs which eventually lead insecurity in their communities ,” said SP Fata.
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