The Rwanda national Police Anti-Narcotic Unit (ANU) intercepted a vehicle in Kigali, which was transporting 61kgs of cannabis.
The Congolese registered vehicle was tracked from Rubavu District to Kibaya Village, Nyamabuye Cell, Gatsata Sector in Gasabo District where the suspected major drug trafficker was arrested at about midnight, and the vehicle impounded.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was packaging the narcotics in small quantities. The narcotics have been sneaked into Rwanda from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through a porous border point in Rubavu.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for Kigali, said the Police had received a tip-off from someone in Rubavu.
“The suspect is a major drug dealer, who belongs to a racket alongside his father. The identities of other three members of the ring, including the alleged ringleader, are known,” SP Twajamahoro said.
SP Twajamahoro commended the responsiveness of the public in crime reporting and timely information sharing to break chains of drug suppliers.
Last month, Police also impounded another vehicle belonging to the same ring, in Rugerero Cell of Rugerero Sector also in Rubavu District transporting 51kgs of cannabis.
Article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, provides a sentence of between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million, for anyone convicted of trafficking and distributing very severe narcotic drugs. (End)