Two people; Geoffrey Ngabonziza, the owner of the production plant, and one Vedaste Sinaribonye, the alleged distributor of the psychotropic substances, were also taken into custody.

Police and FDA also seized over 3500 litres of Huguka illicit brew and close to 1000 litres of Agasusuruko brew, from Ngabonziza’s store in Nyabugogo and at his plant in Jabana.

"Over 1590 litres of Huguka and 904 lires of Agasusuruko were recovered from Ngabonziza’s store in Nyabugogo.

Drums containing other 2000 litres were found at his production plant in Jabana. Other 106 bottles of illicit brew were also found in Sinaribonye’s shop," Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said.

The plant was destroyed and the illicit drinks disposed of. Ngabonziza allegedly started producing the the substances back in 2020.

"Ngabonziza had no license, either issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) or Rwanda FDA, as a prior requirement. The law is clear; alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws are considered as simple narcotic drugs," CIP Twajamahoro explained.

Article 263 of the law determing offences 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, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years and a fine of not less than Rwf5 million and less than Rwf10 million in regard to "simple narcotics."