The Spokesperson for the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Dr. Thierry B. Murangira, has announced that 61 people, including beverage manufacturers, have been arrested on suspicion of producing and distributing substandard alcoholic beverages, with some allegedly manufacturing products that fell outside the scope of their licensed activities.
He made the remarks on August 4, 2026, during an interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) on efforts to combat substandard beverages in the country.
Dr. Murangira said the ongoing investigation into the production of substandard beverages has so far resulted in the arrest of more than 61 suspects, while other individuals remain at large.
Investigation Still Ongoing
“The investigation is ongoing, and the number of suspects may increase because this is a campaign we have launched to combat these practices. We will not stop until activities that genuinely benefit Rwandans are given the priority they deserve in this country,” he said.
Penalties for Producing Harmful Beverages
Among the offences under investigation is administering or supplying a substance that is likely to cause death or seriously endanger another person’s health, an offence punishable by two to three years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from Frw300,000 to Frw500,000.
If the beverage causes a chronic illness, the penalty increases to 20 to 25 years in prison, along with a fine of between Frw500,000 and Frw1 million.
Forgery and Tax-Related Offences
Dr. Murangira added that some of those arrested are also suspected of forgery-related offences: “Some suspects claimed to possess quality certification documents or forged stamps belonging to the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). There were many fraudulent schemes involved,”
Under Rwandan law, anyone convicted of forging, altering, or using forged documents faces between five and seven years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from Frw3 million to Frw5 million.
Additional Charges Under Investigation
Other suspects are accused of obstructing public authorities and tax evasion.
A person convicted of obstructing public authorities faces six months to one year in prison, while tax evasion carries a prison sentence of between two and five years.
