Police in Eastern Province arrested 21 people after seizing more than 6,000 bottles of Zebra Gin and hundreds of litres of other banned illicit drinks in an operation conducted on Thursday, September 17. About 355 litres of kanyanga and 322 litres of other banned alcoholic drinks were seized along with three motorcycles allegedly used to transport Zebra Gin, one of recalled brands. ALSO READ: Physical assault cases drop by 33% after illicit alcohol crackdown The drinks were recovered in five districts but most of the seizures made in Nyagatare, Gatsibo and Kayonza, according to SSP Hamduni Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern Province. “It was not a planned operation. It was based on information from residents. They have been providing information after becoming more aware of the dangers associated with illicit alcohol,” Twizeyimana told The New Times. “The large part of the seized drinks had been smuggled from Uganda, but others were already being distributed within Rwanda,” he added. ALSO READ: Illicit alcohol linked to over 40 deaths in six months, health minister says Twizeyimana said some of the suspects were handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau for further investigation, while others were taken to rehabilitation centres. The seizures come as regulatory and law enforcement agencies intensified efforts to curb illicit alcohol production, transportation and sale across the country. More than 140 companies have been closed and hundreds of alcohol brands recalled since early August as part of the national crackdown. Dozens of company managers and regulatory officials have been prosecuted for the illegal production, distribution and sale of substandard alcoholic beverages.
