On March 4, Rwanda National Police (RNP) handed over the recovered vehicle, Toyota Land Cruiser type, to Kenya authorities. The vehicle belonged to the Senior Pastor Michael Nieswand, of the Repentance and Holiness Ministry based in Kenya’s town of Nakuru. Nieswand could not hide his happiness after he was informed that Interpol Kigali had recovered his car after the buyer crossed to Rwanda from DR Congo with it, where it had been sold. In his special message on a plaque he sent to RNP after receiving his vehicle, Pastor Nieswand expressed his appreciation and honor to Rwanda National Police. RNP and Kenya Police maintain that such cross-border crimes can be effectively combated when there is strong cooperation among forces. However this cooperation is still hampered by reluctance or less concern among some police forces in the region, according to a statement from RNP. According to Sergeant Chris Mmbwanga, attached to Interpol Kenya, some police forces in the region are still “unwilling” or “hesitant” to respond to cross-border security requests. “Early last year, we learnt that this car had been taken to the DR Congo but the Congolese Police was not cooperative in trying to recover it, despite us having requested them to help in the investigations,” said Sgt. Mmbwanga. “We then contacted Rwanda Police, our strong partners, and the results speak for themselves as usual. Some police forces in the region are not cooperative, making their countries safe havens for thieves,” he added. “RNP has extended the Interpol communication tool, I-24/7, to all Rwandan border posts and this is why we were able to recover all the vehicles and even arrest drug traffickers that try to use Rwanda as a transit centre,” said Police Spokesperson, CSP Celestin Twahirwa. The tool connects all law enforcement agencies in Interpol member countries and allows investigators access Interpol’s range of criminal databases to search and cross check data on suspected criminals or wanted persons, stolen and lost travel documents, stolen motor vehicles, fingerprints, DNA profiles, stolen administrative documents and stolen works of art.
