The Eastern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, said that Nizeyimana, who was arrested at about 3am, was reported by a resident.

He added that Nizeyimana had buried the narcotics in his farm in Karenge I Village, where they were recovered.

“A resident called the Police in Nasho Sector reporting a local resident (Nizeyimana), who had sneaked into Rwanda sacks of cannabis from Tanzania and buried them in his farm," SP Twizeyimana said.

"An operation was conducted on Thursday to dig the exact spot where the narcotics were suspected to be buried and where indeed three sacks of cannabis weighing 42kgs, were recovered leading to the arrest of Nizeyimana," he added.

SP Twizeyimana thanked the resident, who reported the criminal act and to facilitate national efforts against drugs.

The suspect and exhibits were handed over to RIB at Nasho station for further investigations.

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.