Police in Nyagatare District have impounded a vehicle, which was transporting 11 bales of smuggled second-hand clothes commonly.
The vehicle driven by one Gilbert Seminega, 50, also arrested, was intercepted Monday, December 12, in Byimana Village, Rwimiyaga Cell in Rwimiyaga Sector following close collaboration between the Police and local residents, who shared information.
The bales had been sneaked into Rwanda from Uganda through a porous border point, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region.
“This successful operation was facilitated by credible information provided by residents, who witnessed the attempted smuggling and fraud. This helped Police officers to mount a roadblock to intercept the vehicle and to arrest the driver, who was transporting the bales to Rwagitima,” SP Twizeyimana said.
Elsewhere, on Tuesday, Police in Burera District also seized four sacks of smuggled clothes weighing 195kgs, after they were also sneaked into Rwanda from Uganda.
A group of alleged smugglers dropped the sacks and fled, according to SP Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).
Under the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.
A vehicle intercepted with smuggled goods is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.
Article 87 of the law on tax procedures provides an imprisonment of between 2 and 5 years, for tax evasion.
