Gilbert Twiringiyimana, 19, was arrested red-handed in Buhita Village, Bukwashuri Cell of Kivuye Sector with a bundle of cannabis, which he had trafficked into Rwanda from the neighbouring Uganda.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Political and Civic Education officer (RPCEO) for the Northern region, said that the suspect was arrested due to a tip-off by local residents.

“Residents in Bukwashuri cell called the Police after suspecting that the sack Twiringiyimana was carrying from Uganda through Urugezi marshland, contained cannabis.

Based on this information, an operation was organized and Twiringiyimana was apprehended in the marshland with 10kgs of cannabis," SP Ndayisenga said.

Twiringiyimana claimed that the narcotics belong to one he only identified as Gasekuru, who hired him to bring them to his clients in Ruhunde sector.

Twiringiyimana, who was handed over to RIB at Bungwe station, said that Gasekuru was to pay him Rwf5,000, upon delivery.

SP Ndayisenga commended the residents for their vigilance and responsiveness and called for continued information sharing on anyone suspected to be a drug dealer.

The Ministerial order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis in the category of "very severe narcotics.’’

Article 263 of law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general 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 for "very severe narcotics," the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.