Rwanda National Police

On Sunday, October 20, Police impounded a vehicle in Kabaya Village, Gahinga Cell of Nemba Sector in Gakenke District, which was transporting 33 bales of smuggled second-hand clothes.

The vehicle, Fuso type, was enroute to Kigali from Rubavu, carrying cabbages. The driver, the only person who was on board, was also arrested in connection with smuggling and fraud.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Jean Bosco Mwiseneza, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that the suspect was arrested at about 4a.m, following credible information about the smuggling plot.

"The driver failed to negotiate a corner at Kabaya and the vehicle overturned blocking the road. This is when he tried to hide the bales of clothes in the nearby bush, but the vigilant and responsive residents, who observed the process, called the Police," SP Mwiseneza said.

When Police arrived, he added, they found 20 bales at the accident scene and recovered 13 others in the bush when they were hidden.

It is believed that the bales of used clothes were smuggled into Rwanda from the DR Congo through an illegal border point in Rubavu. The driver was at the time delivering then to the rightful owner in Kigali, who is yet to be arrested.

"Concealing smuggled or illegal goods in vegetables and other foodstuff is one of the known tricks used by smugglers and drug traffickers, and many of those engaged in these criminal businesses have been arrested due to  strengthened operations and strong partnership with the public, which facilitates information sharing," the spokesperson said.

Article 87 of the law on tax procedures provides an imprisonment of between 2 and 5 years, for tax evasion.

A vehicle intercepted transporting smuggled goods is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.