English
Kinyarwanda
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) on Thursday, July 15, arrested one Innocent Uwimaninyeretse, 35, in Rubavu District with four sacks of second-hand clothes, one sack of used shoes and nine pieces of the traditional fabrics commonly known as Kitenge.
The goods were recovered in his shop located in Gahenerezo Village, Rungu Cell, Mudende Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said RPU had received information that Uwimaninyeretse had sneaked goods into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through a porous border point.
"In response to the tip-off, RPU conducted a search at Uwimaninyeretse's shop where four sacks of clothes, one sack of shoes and nine pieces of Kitenge were recovered. He said that the goods belong to different people although he did not disclose their identities," CIP Karekezi said.
He thanked the residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspected smuggler and seizure of the smuggled goods.
The suspect was handed over to RIB at Busasamana station for further investigation and legal process.
In article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, any automobile used in smuggling and seized smuggled goods are auctioned while the driver is fined US$5000.
Tax fraud
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years.
