Rwanda National Police

A man in Rulindo District was apprehended after Police caught him with 20 bottles of smuggled liquor.

Mohamed Ingabire, 31, was stopped on March 5 while being transported on a commercial motocycle in Mukoto sector.

At the time, he was carrying a heavy bag in which the 20 bottles of a liquor known as Chivas was concealed.

Police Spokesperson for the Northern Region, Chief Inspector of Police, Andre Hakizimana said that the suspect failed to provide proof that he had legally purchased the liquors or paid taxes, which led to the their confiscation.

“All legally accepted goods in Rwanda have also to be imported through legal channels. When u try to sneak it into the country in any other way that is against the law, you will be arrested," said CIP Hakizimana.

“Citizens should continue providing information to Police through community policing because it is such information that has helped Police to conduct successful operations and stop smugglers and other criminals.”

Smuggling is a crime in Rwanda as stipulated under article 369 of the penal code.

It states that any person who is guilty of tax evasion shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three months but less than six months and a fine equal to the evaded tax.

Thus, Rwanda National Police instituted a unit - Revenue Protection Department - to support Rwanda Revenue Authority and to enforce the law against fraud and smuggling and tax evasion.

Police conducts operations especially around bordering communities to ensure that the scourge is kept in check.