Rwanda National Police

A marine unit in Rutsiro District, on November 20, intercepted at least 369 bales of second-hand clothes and shoes that were being smuggled into the country through Lake Kivu.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Elias Mwesigye, the Commanding Officer (CO) for the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Marine Unit, said the merchandise was seized from five Congolese nationals, who were also taken into custody.

The intercepted merchandise smuggled includes 319 bales of used shoes and 50 bales of secondhand clothes locally known as caguwa.

“We had earlier in the day received information about a boat that would be heading to Karongi District from Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through Lake Kivu”, ACP Mwesigye said.

“Marine officers were deployed and the boat loaded with the merchandise was intercepted at about 9PM as it approached Nyamunini Island. Five people, all Congolese, who were on board were immediately taken into custody,” he added.

Marine police is charged with, among others, fighting illegal commercial activities and other crimes in national water bodies including illegal cross-border.

The goods, ACP Mwesigye said, were handed over to Revenue Protection Unit (RPU), a Rwanda National Police (RNP) arm attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to fight fraud and smuggling, among others.

According to RPU said merchandise weighing about 10.5 tonnes, had evaded taxes amounting to over Rwf48.7 million.

A kilogram of used clothes and shoes pays US$4 in taxes.

ACP Mwesigye said the suspects committed two offenses; “fraud and illegal cross-border.”

Under the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.

Illegal cross-border is also punishable under article 44 of law No. 57/2018 of 13/08/2018 relating to emigration and migration.

“Illegal activities in water bodies can be dangerous; smugglers often overload their boats to maximize profits, which can also turn disastrous; the boat can capsize leading to loss of lives,” the Commanding Officer said.

He, however, said that the “strong partnership” with fishing cooperatives in Lake Kivu and neighbouring communities continues to yield positive results against illegal activities like smuggling and illegal fishing, among others.