Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said that the suspects were arrested separately on March 01 in Police operations following a tip-off from locals.

"Two of the suspects identified as Habarurema Jean Paul,19, and Bucyensenge Pocianne 28, were apprehended in Ndego Sector in Kayonza district while trafficking cannabis – approximately 5 kilograms. Habimana Emile 26, was arrested in Nyamirama Sector in the same district carrying 10 kgs of Cannabis in two bags," CIP Twizeyimana explained.

The region Spokesperson added that the arrest of the first two suspects came as a result of information from members of the public; while the last one was arrested by traffic Police officers in their routine work at a traffic Post.

"Habimana was stopped at a Traffic Police check point in Nyamirama at about 09:00am in the morning. Police officers saw a motorcycle trying to hide behind a long truck and they immediately stopped it. The rider was found with two bags of marijuana weighing around 05kgs each’’ the spokesperson narrated.

The spokesperson thanked members of the community who shared this information about cannabis dealers that led to apprehension of the suspects and seizure of the narcotic drugs.

“These and many other successful operations show the impact of community policing where people stand up to fight anything that affects their well-being. Every citizen should emulate such an act and share information about wrong doing with the nearest police” he added.

Narcotics, he noted, are a threat to life and they interfere with security and safety measures within any given community as it fuels mostly violent crimes.

Cannabis is listed as a “very severe drug” under the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.

Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “very severe narcotic drugs” faces between 20 years and life in prison and a fine of between Rwf20 million Rwf30 million.