RUTSIRO— Three people were detained in Rutsiro District after they were found in possession of about 1500 rolls of marijuana with an estimated street value of over Rwf1.5million.

The trio, Jacques Habanabakize a motor cycle taxi operator , Albert Munyemanzi and Alloysia Mukayuhi were arrested following a tip-off from residents on Monday.

It is reported that Munyemanzi was first nabbed with a small quantity of the drug, while travelling on Habanabakize’s motorcycle from Rubavu to Karongi. Further investigations led to the arrest of Mukayuhi who turned out to be the main dealer.

Habanabakize claimed innocence saying that he was only transporting a customer without bothering to check what his passenger was carrying.

According to police, the use of western region districts as major transit centres of illicit drugs from the Democratic Republic of  Congo(DRC) was a common practice whose fight demands stepped up  efforts.

"We are fully committed to completely eliminate cross border trade of illicit drugs such as Marijuana  and the general public also has an important role to play by sharing information with security organs,” he said.

Meanwhile, last weekend Police in Kigali seized marijuana worth Rwf 5.2 million. Most of it is suspected to have originated from the DRC.

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