Eighteen public servants have been arrested as part of an ongoing crackdown on illicit alcohol, with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) accusing some of abusing their offices and others of facilitating the distribution of products that could endanger consumers. The suspects were presented to the public at RIB headquarters in Kimihurura on Thursday, August 13. The officials are from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and local government. ALSO READ: Rwanda FDA boss among 18 officials arrested amid crackdown on illicit alcohol RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira said Rwanda FDA and RSB officials are suspected of abusing their offices in the course of their regulatory duties, including inspecting, certifying and monitoring companies producing alcoholic beverages. Who are the suspects? The Rwanda FDA officials include Director General Emile Bienvenue; Eric Nyirimigabo, head of the Food Department; Innocent Nyamwasa, Division Manager of Food Safety Monitoring, Inspection and Licensing; Christian Mahoro, food establishment specialist; and Alice Muhimpundu, Food Stores and Outlets Inspection Specialist. Others are Benitha Kangabe, food technology and inspection specialist; Claudine Niyigena, food store and outlet inspection specialist; Patrick Ndayishima Rwabukumba, in charge of inspections of medical products on the market; and Janvier Nizeyimana, food plant principal engineer. At RSB, the suspects include Samuel Mporanzi, National Certification Division Manager; Celine Kanyange, director of the Product Certification Unit; and Eric Kabanda, director of the System Certification Unit. The local government officials include Isaie Gasana, executive secretary of Kansi Sector in Gisagara District; Theophile Gasana, executive secretary of Higiro Cell in Nyanza Sector, Gisagara District; Emmanuel Kubwimana, a village chief in Karongi District; Frederick Barabwiriza, vice-president of the council of Tumba Sector in Karongi District; and Manasseh Niyomugabo, a social-economic development officer at cell level in Karongi District. ALSO READ: Over 130 companies closed as crackdown on illicit alcohol widens What are they accused of? According to Murangira, the allegations are linked to regulatory failures involving companies producing alcoholic beverages. Investigators found companies that had obtained regulatory approvals despite allegedly failing to meet all the required conditions. Companies are required to have their premises approved before beginning production. However, Murangira said some factories had been established in residential areas, where such operations are not permitted. “There are companies that showed inspectors where they intended to establish their factories, received certification and later moved to different locations,” he said. Some companies were also allegedly operating without the required Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification, which covers production processes, including processing, bottle cleaning and sealing. Murangira said investigators found companies using inadequate methods to clean bottles despite being required to use appropriate machinery. “It was surprising to find some companies that were considered large cleaning bottles with sticks and their hands, instead of using the required machines,” he said. ALSO READ: Products worth Rwf2.6bn seized as crackdown on illicit alcohol widens Investigators also found squeezing machines with stains at some facilities, despite the companies having received certificates. Unregistered products Murangira said investigators found irregularities in product registration, with some companies registering one product but later producing additional products that had not been registered. Such products should have been recalled because they were not among those approved, he said. Investigators also found cases where companies were issued Food Business Operator (FBO) licences without first obtaining other required certificates. Murangira said Rwanda FDA has procedures requiring companies to meet regulatory requirements step by step before receiving a final licence, but those procedures were allegedly ignored in some cases. S-Mark certification under scrutiny At RSB, preliminary investigations indicate that 18 companies were issued S-Mark certification despite allegedly failing to meet regulatory requirements, Murangira said. Officials responsible for inspections are expected to take action when a company fails to meet the required standards. “When Rwanda FDA inspectors find that a company does not meet the required standards, they are expected to take action, including closing the facility. In some cases, this was deliberately not done,” Murangira said. He said investigations were ongoing and warned that more people could be held accountable. Local officials accused of facilitating distribution RIB also alleges that some local officials facilitated the distribution of products that could endanger consumers. Murangira said some executive secretaries and other local officials are suspected of helping producers access markets or concealing information about dangerous products. He also accused some officials of protecting producers because they considered them partners in community activities. “It is shameful for a local official to hide illicit alcohol or protect its producers,” Murangira said. He said some officials considered producers partners because they contributed to programmes such as Mutuelle de Santé, but warned that such contributions should not shield producers of dangerous products from enforcement. Murangira also said some local officials allegedly own bars where recalled illicit alcohol is still being sold, while others are accused of concealing information about the products. 104 suspects arrested The 18 public servants are part of a wider investigation into illicit alcohol. Murangira said 104 suspects linked to illicit alcohol distribution had been arrested, while 97 case files had been forwarded to prosecution since July 20. The suspects are being detained at different police stations, including Nyarugenge, Nyamirambo, Remera, Karongi and Gisagara. Authorities have in recent weeks stepped up inspections, recalls and enforcement against manufacturers, distributors and retailers suspected of producing or selling non-compliant alcoholic products. More than 140 companies have been closed and hundreds of alcohol brands recalled since August 2. The crackdown follows growing concern over the health consequences associated with illicit alcoholic beverages. Health officials said more than 50 people had died since the beginning of 2026 and more than 100 others had lost their sight after consuming illicit alcoholic beverages. More than 500 people had also sought medical treatment. Murangira said investigations would continue to identify people involved in the production, distribution or protection of illicit alcoholic products. The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
