Vincent Mfashijwenimana, 24, and Diane Niyonsenga, 25, were arrested red-handed with the narcotics in Kamashashi Village, Kabuga II Cell in Rusororo Sector.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the duo was suspected to be drug dealers for a while, supplying different cannabis retailers in Kigali.

"There was information that Mfashijwenimana was trafficking cannabis into Rwanda from Tanzania, and was working with Niyonsenga to supply their clients in Kigali and Bugesera District," CIP Twajamahoro said.

He added: "On Sunday October 2, at about 1pm, a resident of Kamashashi Village called the Police to report Niyonsenga, who he suspected to be transporting cannabis in a bag.

Niyonsenga was immediately taken into custody after she was found in possession of 3kgs of cannabis. Niyonsenga led Police officers to her supplier, Mfashijwenimana, who was also found with other 3kgs of cannabis."

They were handed over to RIB at Rusororo station for further investigations.

CIP Twajamahoro commended the resident, who facilitated the arrest of the two suppliers of cannabis.

The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation 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.