Kigali: Separate Police operations conducted on Monday in different parts of the country led to the arrest of 12 people, who were either distilling or selling illicit brew.
Six suspects were arrested in the Eastern Province (Ngoma, Kayonza and Gatsibo), five in the Southern Province (Huye, Nyanza and Nyaruguru) and one in Rutsiro District. At the time, they were found with combined 1,910 litres of assorted illicit drinks.
The operations were in line with fighting trafficking, distilling, selling and abusing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as implementing the Prime Minister Order on preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that the arrest of the six dealers in psychotropic substances in Ngoma, Kayonza and Gatsibo where 750 litres of illicit brew were seized, followed a tip-off from local residents.
“During operations to enforce the government directives on the prevention of coronavirus spread, Police and local leaders found the six men distilling and selling illicit brew,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
Suspects in other regions had closed them inside shops selling and consuming the alcoholic substances, Police said.
They were also found sharing the traditional straws consuming the substances, which is dangerous especially in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, which can also be spread through the shared materials. (End)