Rwanda National Police (RNP) has impounded a vehicle in Muhanga District, which was transporting assorted smuggled goods, including 147 bales of clothes and five bales of shoes. The Fuso vehicle, registration number RAF 260W, was intercepted on Monday September 3, at about 5am, in Musongati Cell of Nyarusange Sector. Superintendent of Police Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern Region, said that the driver, a 44-year old man, was also arrested. Two other people, who were on board, fled during the operation. Among the goods seized include 140 bales of second-hand clothes, five bales of used shoes; seven bales of African fabrics commonly known as kitenge, 220 rolls of substandard electric cables, 176 pieces of salsa and 25 tins of powdered milk. The goods were smuggled into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through Lake Kivu. “There was credible information that quantities of goods were smuggled into Rwanda from DRC, through Lake Kivu in Nyamasheke District, and an operation was commenced to trace the whereabouts of the goods until the vehicle transporting the goods was intercepted in Muhanga District en-route to Kigali,” Kanamugire said. The goods were handed over to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). Last week, police, also in Muhanga, impounded a bus, which was transporting 1074kgs of smuggled second-hand clothes. Meanwhile, the arrested driver claimed that the goods belong to one businessman who is yet to be arrested. He added that the owner of the goods was to pay him Frw200,000 upon delivering the goods to the final destination in Kimisagara, Nyarugenge District. Article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, provides that seized smuggled goods be auctioned. A vehicle intercepted transporting smuggled goods is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of $5000. A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subjected to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years.
