When inspectors recently arrived at Agahebuzo Drinks Processing Ltd in Nsinda Cell, Rwamagana District, they expected to be greeted by the warm, fruity aroma of bananas fermenting into a traditional brew.

Instead, a sharp chemical odor hit their faces – a concoction of soap, tobacco, and harsh industrial alcohol.

Inside the warehouse, they discovered sacks filled with crushed chili, shredded tobacco leaves, detergent powder, ethanol, and synthetic flavourings meant to mimic the taste of bananas and pineapples.

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Within hours, the factory was sealed, more than Rwf16 million worth of products was poured away before startled residents, and several workers were detained while the owner slipped away.

"What they were producing was not alcohol in any sense; it was poison,” said a health inspector who joined the raid conducted by district authorities.

"People had been complaining of headaches, stomach cramps, and blurred vision for months. Only when we tested the samples did the truth become clear.”

Rwamagana District Mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi, present at the site during the raid, issued a stern warning to residents to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages and to report any suspicious products promptly.

"Citizens must be part of the solution; if a drink is unusually cheap or causes rapid intoxication, avoid it and tell authorities,” he said.

A few days later, investigators in neighbouring Gatsibo District uncovered a near-identical operation.

Officials destroyed 25,000 litres of liquor produced by a company licensed to make banana beer, after discovering the brewery had substituted soap, chili, ethanol, and tobacco for legitimate ingredients. The value of that haul was estimated at Rwf37 million.

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Richard Gasana, the Mayor of Gatsibo District, explained that the crackdown was intended to protect residents from the dangers posed by illegal brews.

"This factory had the legal right to produce banana beer. But what they were actually making endangered the lives of Rwandans. That is why we destroyed the products and closed the factory,” he said.

The factories in Rwamagana and Gatsibo had papers and licenses, yet the bottles they sent into markets were chemical cocktails.

The twin discoveries have forced a national conversation about an ugly market that preys on demand for cheap alcohol, particularly among low-income and vulnerable communities.

Small producers, some originally legal, have increasingly turned to dangerous shortcuts: industrial chemicals that increase potency and cut costs but can cause permanent harm or death.

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Cheap escapes, costly consequences

At the centre of the crisis is an appetite for quick, cheap intoxication. In many trading centres, plastic jerrycans of unlabeled liquids are sold under street names such as "ibyuma” or "inkoramutima.”

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For people dealing with different pressures, these brews offer a brief escape at a fraction of the price of branded beer or spirits. But that bargain can cost lives.

Bernard Mweneyo, 41, from Muyumbu Sector in Rwamagana, has felt the impact first-hand.

"I used to drink locally made brews almost every weekend,” he told The New Times in a phone interview.

"One day, I experienced severe stomach pain and went to a health center,” he added. "The doctors told me I had consumed something containing dangerously high levels of nicotine and methane, which had damaged my pancreas. I’m recovering now, but I’ll never drink those brews again.”

Health officials in district hospitals report a steady trickle of similar cases. Symptoms range from severe abdominal pain and vomiting to neurological problems and, in extreme cases, organ failure.

Specialists point to methanol, an industrial alcohol, as one of the chief culprits; even small doses can cause blindness or death, while a cocktail of detergents and other industrial compounds can cause chronic organ damage.

"People do not realise that the same bottle that makes someone pass out in an hour can permanently damage their liver, pancreas, or nervous system,” said a medical officer at Rwamagana District Hospital who treated some of the victims.

Dr. Theoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Programme at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), has warned that excessive alcohol consumption, particularly of these deadly concoctions, can lead to serious long-term complications, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

He noted that such drinks are associated with severe health risks, including gastrointestinal cancers, such as oesophageal, gastric, and liver cancers.

Dr. Maniragaba emphasised that avoiding these harmful substances is crucial, as prevention remains the most effective way to reduce the growing burden of alcohol-related diseases.

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How legal supply lines are twisted

Investigations suggest that many illicit operations begin on an entirely legal footing. Producers obtain permits to manufacture traditional banana or sorghum beers, then gradually change recipes and sourcing to incorporate cheaper, more potent materials.

Some businesses show inspectors a small batch of legitimate banana brew during visits, then switch to synthetic variants in bulk production.

Others import industrial ethanol or flavouring agents through informal channels and disguise them as food-grade products.

One of the most concerning practices is the addition of soap, chili peppers, and tobacco. Soap contains caustic chemicals that can burn internal tissues, posing serious health risks when ingested.

Shredded tobacco introduces nicotine and other harmful toxins into the body, while excessive consumption of chili peppers can trigger digestive issues such as heartburn, diarrhea, and stomach pain, among other adverse effects.

Combined with industrial ethanol and synthetic aromas, the result is a drink that intoxicates quickly but slowly poisons the user.

Gatera Célestin, from Musave village in Bumbogo sector, Kigali, whose neighbours often bought brews from the Rwamagana factory, said, "We thought it was strong, not poisonous. We are lucky no one died.”

The national response

Rwanda’s enforcement agencies have responded with coordinated operations, combining the work of district authorities, the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, and the national police.

Market inspections have increased and raids on suspected factories have intensified. Seized products are publicly destroyed, and in many cases, operators face closure, prosecution, and asset seizure.

A joint statement from law enforcement said, "Products mixed with industrial chemicals present immediate risks to health and deserve decisive action.”

Police and regulatory agencies are also working to tighten cross-border controls that previously allowed industrial chemicals to enter informal supply lines.

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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is compiling data on alcohol-related hospital admissions to understand the scale and geography of the problem, and the Rwanda FDA has ramped up public education campaigns about the dangers of unlabeled and unregulated drinks.

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The social drivers

Understanding why the market for illicit brews thrives requires looking beyond supply. Many social and economic factors encourage demand.

Unemployment, poverty, and the pressure of daily survival make cheap thrills attractive. In some communities, a long tradition of home-brewed drinks blends with modern anxieties about work and family, producing a market for stronger, faster-acting beverages.

"People want something that knocks them out quickly,” said Announciata Nyiranzira, a bar owner in Rugende. "We stock recognised beer and gin, but customers come asking for"Ibyuma". For us, it is hard to know what is approved until authorities check. We sell what people demand, but we do not make those drinks.”

Public-health experts add that the root causes often include mental health pressures, alcohol dependence, and a lack of social services. A local coping culture, where stress is eased with a potent, cheap drink, contributes to recurring demand. This dynamic routinely pushes the poorest consumers toward the most dangerous products.

Business, regulation, and fair play

Legitimate manufacturers also feel the sting of counterfeit goods. Formal producers argue that unregulated brews undermine investment, deprive the state of tax revenue, and harm brand reputation.

Many reputable companies have doubled down on traceability and labelling while urging consumers to buy certified products.

"We assemble and sell products that meet standards, we provide warranties and we pay taxes,” said a representative from a licensed beverage firm. "When illegal operators flood the market with dangerous products, everyone loses. Consumers are harmed and honest businesses suffer.”

Authorities have promised stiffer penalties for operators who deliberately endanger public health. In several districts, assets belonging to convicted owners are being seized and auctioned, with proceeds used to compensate victims where possible.

At the same time, regulators are working with cooperatives and small producers to formalise operations: training them in safe fermentation methods, helping them access legitimate inputs, and encouraging transparency in labelling and packaging.

Communities stepping up

Community policing committees and district officials have become key partners in identifying suspicious businesses. In many areas, residents now report unusual activity or unusually cheap products to local leaders.

Mayor Mbonyumuvunyi of Rwamagana reiterated, "Citizens must be part of the solution; if a drink is unusually cheap or causes rapid intoxication, avoid it and tell authorities.”

In Nsinda, the sight of the sealed Agahebuzo compound remains a cautionary image. Residents who once bought the factory’s brew now inspect labels meticulously or avoid unbranded options entirely.

Jean Bosco Hakizabazungu, head of Rubirizi village in Gatsibo, where the Agakeye factory operated, said, "We will strengthen monitoring of all businesses in our village. If people are producing things that can kill, we need to catch it quickly.”

Medical frontlines and data

Clinicians have been essential in detecting patterns and advising investigators. Repeated cases with similar symptoms raised alarm in district hospitals, prompting medical teams to test samples and trace distribution networks.

Health facilities report patients arriving with acute intoxication, respiratory distress, or unexplained neurological symptoms; some require prolonged care.

The Ministry of Health is now compiling comprehensive data on alcohol-related admissions to better target enforcement and public education.

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Early results show hotspots in rural trading centres where illicit brews are cheapest and most available. Officials hope the data will drive more timely interventions and improve public awareness messaging.

A multifaceted solution

Experts agree that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. Public education, stronger supply-chain oversight, and economic alternatives are all crucial.

Community dialogues, local radio programmes, and school outreach are being used to shift attitudes and inform people about the risks of unknown drinks.

At the same time, formal training for small brewers offers a path to legitimacy and safer livelihoods.

Mayor Gasana said the crackdown is aimed at safeguarding real producers of safe products. "By destroying illegal products and supporting legal small producers, we can protect public health while giving entrepreneurs a chance to grow safely.”

A sobering lesson

The raids in Rwamagana and Gatsibo revealed a national problem hidden in plain sight: when profit and potency matter more than health, communities pay the price.

Authorities are hopeful that coordinated enforcement and community engagement will reduce the circulation of toxic brews, but they warn consumers to remain cautious.

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Mayor Mbonyumuvunyi’s message was blunt and clear: "If a drink is cheap and you do not know what is inside, then it is probably not alcohol, it is poison. People must stop gambling with their lives.”

For those who work in informal bars and small shops across the country, the crisis is also a call to responsibility, to stop selling products that pose a danger to human life.

Many say they will change how they source drinks, preferring certified suppliers even if margins are tighter, but that remains to be seen.

For many who enjoy drinking, the crackdown serves as a stark reminder that what you consume could very well be deadly.

Authorities are calling for vigilance and early reporting whenever they suspect manufacturing of illicit brews, while citizens have been urged to make informed choices of what they consume to protect their own lives.