A combined team from the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU), the District Police Unit (DPU), and residents of Rubavu have arrested four suspected members of a drug trafficking cartel with 100kgs and 5,000 pellets of cannabis.
Claude Habumugisha and Jean de Dieu Sibomana alias Fils, both aged 31 who were commercial motorcycle operators in Rubavu got arrested on Sunday, March 14 in Gisenyi Sector, Amahoro Cell with 54,000 pellets of cannabis masked in 32 bundles weighing 100kg.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region stated that two taxi-moto operators were arrested alongside one Jean Claude Rukundo, a storekeeper at a house located in Amahoro Cell, Gisenyi Sector. The house which was being used as the store for the narcotics had just delivered the 32 bundles. The house was rented by a drug dealer on the run known as Janvier Hakizimana.
The fourth suspect Jonas Sebareme, 39, was arrested Saturday, March 13, in Busasamana Sector also in Rubavu with 5,000 rolls of cannabis.
Although the suspected main supplier ‘Rafiki’ is resident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, those apprehended have been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Gisenyi station alongside their exhibits.
Over 170 dealers have been arrested in various operations while 1550kg of cannabis were also disposed of last week in Rubavu. Rubavu is a major drug trafficking corridor.
Rwanda stipulates 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Frw20 million to Frw30 million for culprits involved in drug peddling and other related narcotic offences.
