At around 7:20p.m, on Tuesday, September 5, the ANU officers intercepted the 33-year old suspect with an alias ‘Media’ in Gora village, Gora cell of Cyanzarwe Sector. At the time, Media was found in possession of 1630 pellets of cannabis.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Solange Nyiraneza, the Western Regional Community Policing Officer (RCPO), said that the suspect had concealed the narcotics in a basket in an attempt to beat security.

She was handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Gisenyi station for further investigations.

“The suspect calling herself Media, was like a contact between cannabis suppliers in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Rwanda especially in Rubavu. She was using different methods to deliver the narcotics to clients from suppliers, such as a basket to guise as someone coming from the market, underneath her clothes and other tricks,” said SP Nyiraneza.

She added: “Law enforcements are still searching for another man, a resident of Gasiza cell, Busasamana sector, also in Rubavu District, who is alleged to be the rightful owner of the narcotics seized from Media as well as other members of the same ring.”

Carrying out acts related to the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances is punishable under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general.

It partly states that, any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to an imprisonment of 20 year and life, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million, in regard to severe narcotic drugs.

Cannabis is classified as a severe narcotic drug in Rwanda.