Is Benzodiazepines legal in Rwanda?

Legal status

Controlled under Law n° 03/2012 of 15/02/2012 and the Penal Code (Law n° 68/2018) — unlawful manufacture/transformation/import/transport/sale/distribution is the serious tier; use and possession sit at lower tiers; the 2018 Penal Code substantially raised drug-offence penalties, serious trafficking reaching long fixed-term to life imprisonment; exact current Penal Code article year-terms not separately pinned here and left to confirmation against the current Penal Code; the maximum penalty is life imprisonment

Consequences if caught

Benzodiazepines is controlled in Rwanda under Law n° 03/2012 of 15/02/2012 (governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors) together with the Penal Code (Law n° 68/2018). In Rwanda, drugs fall under Law n° 03/2012 of 15/02/2012 governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, together with the Penal Code (Law n° 68/2018, Official Gazette 27/09/2018). The unlawful manufacture, transformation, import, transport, sale or distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is the serious tier, while use and possession sit at lower tiers; the 2018 Penal Code substantially raised drug-offence penalties, serious trafficking reaching long fixed-term to life imprisonment. The exact current Penal Code article year-terms are not separately pinned here — verify against the current Penal Code. The maximum penalty for drug offences is imprisonment.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.

Documentation

In Rwanda, drugs fall under Law n° 03/2012 of 15/02/2012 governing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, together with the Penal Code (Law n° 68/2018, Official Gazette 27/09/2018). The unlawful manufacture, transformation, import, transport, sale or distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is the serious tier, while use and possession sit at lower tiers; the 2018 Penal Code substantially raised drug-offence penalties, serious trafficking reaching long fixed-term to life imprisonment. The exact current Penal Code article year-terms are not separately pinned here — verify against the current Penal Code. The maximum penalty for drug offences is imprisonment. Cannabis is controlled under the same framework, with no legal recreational or medical regime. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Rwanda’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.