Rwanda National Police

Two people were on Sunday, August 2, intercepted in Kirehe District with at least 50 kilogrammes of fish, which they were smuggling into the country. Those arrested are Jean Pierre Munyempundu, 33, and Gratien Habimana, 39.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that the duo was intercepted at about 8PM by security personnel on patrol.

The suspects were at the time entering the country through an illegal border point in Mpanga Sector, Mushongi Cell in Gitoma Village. 

"They crossed into Rwanda from Tanzania with the fish through Gitoma. These are acts of illegal cross-border, smuggling, tax evasion, and a violation of government directives on COVID-19, which prevents unnecessary movements at the time when movement beyond borders are also still prohibited," CIP Twizeyimana said.

"You cannot rule out the likelihood that this could be contaminated fish, which can be harmful to people's health; that's why it was disposed of," he added.

Meanwhile, the smugglers said that they were taking the fish to their boss, a fishmonger in Kabarondo, Kayonza District.

They disclosed that their alleged boss buys the fishing nets, sends them to Tanzania with his fishermen for illegal fishing. 

The fish is then smuggled into Rwanda to Kayonza.

CIP Twizeyimana urged communities residing along the borderlines to report such illegal cross-border and smuggling activities, which can bring contaminated fish or products on the Rwandan market and fuel the spread of Coronavirus.

The two smugglers were taken into isolation where they will be tested for COVID-19 before legal actions are taken against them.