Bicamumpaka, who was trafficking the narcotics on a motorcycle, was arrested on Tuesday, June 29 enroute to Tare from Mushubi Sector, Police said.

The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamagire said that Bicamumpaka was traveling on the motorcycle with another person, who escaped.

"On Tuesday at about 12 noon, Police officers in a patrol vehicle encountered two people along Mushubi-Tare road, who were traveling on the same motorcycle. They had a big sack which raised the officers’ suspicions owing to the fact that the route is used by drug traffickers and in some cases using motorcycle," SP Kanamugire said.

He added: "When the two men on the motorcycle saw the Police vehicle they threw down the sack and turned to a different direction. When officers checked the dropped sack they found it contained cannabis.

Police officers trailed the motorcycle, and with the help of residents they found the moto hidden in the bush. They also located and arrested Bicamumpaka, the owner of the narcotics, who was roaming in the area."

The motorcycle and the narcotics were impounded to Uwinkingi RIB station, where Bicamumpaka is also detained as the search for his accomplice is still underway. The spokesperson warned taxi-moto operators against aiding drug dealers.

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 up to Rwf30 million.