Rwanda FDA Director General Arrested in Crackdown on Illicit Alcohol
The Director General of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, Emile Bienvenu, is among 18 officials arrested for alleged offenses related to the production and distribution of illicit alcoholic beverages. The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) announced the arrests, which include 10 suspects linked to the Rwanda FDA, a division manager from the Rwanda Standards Board, and executive secretaries from various cells and sectors.
The suspects were presented to the media at the RIB headquarters in Kimihurura on August 13. The arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol, which has resulted in the closure of over 140 companies and the recall of hundreds of alcohol brands from the market since August 2. More than 50 alcohol brands have been banned from importation, and at least 16 company owners, managers, and staff have been arrested.
According to RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira, 97 case files related to illicit alcohol crimes have been forwarded to prosecution since July 20. Murangira stated that some public officials are accused of abusing their authority, while others allegedly facilitated companies involved in producing substandard alcoholic beverages. Those convicted of abusing their authority face prison sentences of 7-10 years and fines ranging from Rwf5 million to Rwf10 million.
The investigation has found cases of companies operating without meeting Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements, with some using branding to appear legitimate while producing in unhygienic conditions. Irregularities in product registration have also been discovered, including instances where companies registered certain products but later produced unregistered products.
The crackdown on illicit alcohol has also led to the seizure of products worth Rwf2.6 billion and the withdrawal of the S-Mark certification for over 80 alcoholic beverages by the standards body. The RIB has warned that officials linked to standards enforcement and local leaders who facilitated the activities of companies producing illicit alcohol will be held accountable.
Article and image source: allafrica.com
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