The National Police, in collaboration with Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) arrested seven people for allegedly smuggling goods into the country.

The suspects were intercepted last week on Friday morning at Karuruma area along Kigali-Gatuna Highway.

Police spokesperson, Supt Theos Badege, confirmed the arrests, explaining that the group was intercepted while transporting 192 cartons of liquor, including Africa Gin and 20 Jerry cans of diesel to an undisclosed location within Kigali city.

Badege said the arrest was done in a joint operation between the national police and the RRA department in charge of revenue protection.

Police identified the seven-people in their custody as Emmanuel Nizeyimana, Nestor Nduwayo, Aaron Uwiringiyimana, Jean Claude Ndayisenga, Husein Bihoreye, Speciose Mukagasana and Jean Paul Harerimana.

Mukagasana, one of the suspects and a dealer in wines and liquors admitted the offence.

"This is my third time to be caught in this act, though I failed to learn from my past mistakes, I will never get involved in smuggling once again,” Mukagasana, who was smuggling liquor (African Gin), said shedding tears.

Nizeyimana, a driver, narrated that the owner of smuggled diesel he was transporting told police that they were carrying sand, which the police didn’t believe and instead ordered them to off load.

"As soon as we were ordered to off load the goods, I told the Police that we were instead carrying diesel and the owner run away and left me in problems,” Nizeyimana said.

The RRA Director for Revenue Protection Department Robert Mugabe said that his office and the national police increased vigilance around the country to net unscrupulous traders that might want to take advantage of the festive seasons.

Ends