Police in Nyabihu District, on May 17, seized various brands of contrabands and 600 pellets of cannabis that were being trafficked into the country.

Nyabihu District Police Commander (DPC) Superintendent of Police Alexis Fata said that, acting on information from members of the public, Police seized illicit liquor, including 384 sachets of Sky Blue, 136 bottles of Africa Gin Waragi and 109 bottle of Living Waragi – all of which are illegal substances in Rwanda.

Jacqueline Mukafideri, who was trafficking the psychotropic substances, was arrested and is currently held at Mukamira Police station, the DPC said.

"This is one of the deliberate operations conducted through information from public partners in the fight against trafficking, using and selling of illicit drugs,” Supt Fata said.

"Besides being illegal and punishable by the law to traffick, sale or consume these substances, it is also prohibited to pack them in plastic bags and this is punishable under the law on environmental protection,” he added.

Under the current laws on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, any drink that exceeds 45 per cent of alcohol content or does not have the required quality for consumption, is considered as a narcotic drug.

"Traffickers should be aware that these substances are illegal, the information we have is that they purchase them from neighbouring countries but we have undertaken several measures to track down the dealers,” Supt. Fata said.

Under 594 of the Penal Code, 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 Rwf5 million.

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