A man suspected dealing in hard drugs was arrested in the City of Kigali, on Monday. The suspect, a Burundian national, who works with a commercial bank in Kigali was arrested red-handed with 14 sachets containing cocaine. Hard drugs are described as substances that can cause severe addiction and damage to the user in the shortest period of time. They also include heroin, opium, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone and benzodiazepines, among others. Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie Gorret Umutesi, the Police spokesperson in the City of Kigali, said the suspect was picked from his place of work in the city centre, where the drugs were also recovered. “There was credible information that this suspect was working with other dealers in hard drugs in Burundi, and he was their link here in Kigali, receiving and selling them to users,” CIP Umutesi said. “The suspect was being monitored, so we got information that there was another delivery that had been sent from Burundi, he was arrested at his office where 14 sachets of cocaine were also recovered,” she added. The suspect, while speaking to the media at Kicukiro Police Station, also admitted that he was getting them from Burundi. Umutesi warned that there are “increased intelligence gathering on drug dealers as part of the efforts to break chains of supply and bring to justice dealers in severe narcotic drugs.” Under article 263 of the new penal code, anyone convicted as “severe narcotic drugs” dealer faces “life imprisonment” and a fine of between Rwf20 million and not more Rwf30 million. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
