Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Western region Police spokesperson said that the suspects were arrested following information provided by local residents.
“Police received information from residents about two people who were transporting a sack on a motorcycle which they suspected to be containing narcotics,” SP Karekezi said.
“A checkpoint was mounted in Kabagari Village along Mukamira-Muhanga highway where they were intercepted, searched and indeed found 2685 pellets concealed in the sack before taking the two suspects into custody over drug trafficking,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mukundimana claimed that she was hired by a supplier in Nyabihu District, whom she did not disclose, to deliver them to another drug dealer in Muhanga District.
SP Karekezi thanked residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of the narcotics.
He further warned taxi-moto operators for facilitating drug traffickers, and urged them to report their colleagues, who tarnish the image of their transport business to engage in criminal activities.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Kabaya station for further investigations to identify and arrest other members of the ring.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.’’
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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