The suspect, who was handed over to RIB at Ruharambuga station, had concealed the pellets in a sack of rice in an attempt to beat security, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said.

The 46-year old suspect had sneaked the narcotics into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he added.

"Security personnel, who were on their routine duties, stopped the suspect at about 2p.m on Saturday, in Taba village, Muyange cell in Nyabitekeri Sector, searched the sack he carried and found 500 big rolls of cannabis stashed in the rice, leading to his immediate arrest," CIP Rukundo said.

The suspect had just crossed into Rwanda from DRC, he added.

Stashing narcotics in sacks of rice is one of the many unearthed tricks used by drug dealers to traffic the very severe drugs from one point to another.

Other unearthed tricks include concealing them in vehicles transporting foodstuffs and other goods, using milk packages, trafficking them in veils or under clothes.

Others have faked pregnancy or carrying a baby to beat security while others have been intercepted trafficking narcotics in gas cylinders.

Cannabis is listed among very severe narcotic drugs in Rwanda.

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 Frw20 million and Frw30 million.