A total of 1,313 cartons, 3,179 bottles of illicit alcoholic beverages and 31,269 litres of the locally brewed drink Igikwangari have been destroyed across Southern Province as authorities intensified a nationwide campaign to eliminate substandard alcohol from the market and protect public health.
The destruction exercise, carried out on August 5 by the Rwanda National Police in partnership with other government institutions, forms part of broader efforts to curb the production, distribution and consumption of dangerous alcoholic products.
Officials said the operation targeted counterfeit and unregulated alcoholic beverages that have increasingly been linked to serious health complications, domestic violence and other criminal activities.
Among the products destroyed were large quantities of the potent spirits commonly known as Ibyuma, particularly in Huye District, where authorities say the illicit drinks continue to pose a significant threat to public safety.
The Rwanda National Police spokesperson for the Southern Province, Chief Inspector of Police Hassan Kamanzi, said combating substandard alcohol is a shared responsibility because of its far-reaching consequences for both public health and security.
He said the drinks damage brain function, impair judgment and contribute to crimes including assault, domestic violence and other forms of violence, particularly among young people.
Kamanzi added that the illicit alcohol trade not only harms consumers but also fuels family disputes, community insecurity and social instability.
Huye District Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Annonciata Kankesha, called on residents to support authorities by reporting individuals involved in producing or selling illegal alcohol, saying community participation remains essential to protecting lives and maintaining public order.
Residents welcomed the exercise, describing illicit alcohol as a major contributor to broken families and rising crime.
Uwimana Iréne, a resident of Huye, said the notorious Ibyuma spirits have destroyed the lives of many young people, with some users resorting to domestic violence, theft and other criminal acts.
Medical experts also warned of the dangers posed by illicit alcohol. Dr François Nsabimana of Kabutare Hospital said illegally manufactured alcoholic beverages often contain toxic chemicals capable of causing severe damage to the liver, kidneys and brain, and in some cases can be fatal.
Authorities confirmed that products sold under names including Fimbo and African Gin were among those removed from the market and destroyed as the crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages continues across the Southern Province.
