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Kinyarwanda
Police in Nyagatare District, on Wednesday July 29, intercepted a man with 18, 600 pieces of non-biodegradable plastic bags.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said that Jean Baptiste Gakwaya, 42, had just trafficked the plastic bags into Rwanda from the neighbouring Uganda, through an illegal border point in Buziba.
CIP Twizeyimana explained that Gakwaya used a motorcycle to transport the banned polythene bags concealed in three sacks, to Nyagatare town.
"As he was unloading and taking them in his house located in Nyagatare town, local leaders saw him and called the Police. Local leaders had information that Gakwaya is a major dealer and supplier of plastic bags in Nyagatare and in the neighbouring districts," CIP Twizeyimana said.
"Indeed, the deployed Police officers found Gakwaya at his home where he was arrested with the three sacks of plastic bags.
He had just made a stop-over at his home but we have established that he was supposed to transport the outlawed products to supply traders in Kayonza District," he added.
How plastic bags are trafficked
It is said that dealers in plastic bags contact their suppliers in Uganda and they meet at illegal borders.
"They have found ways to exchange the products and money without crossing the border; they tie the products or money on the rope and either party pulls the rope. Money is first wrapped in plastic bags especially when the exchange is at Umuyanja river," CIP Twizeyimana explained.
It is the same new method used by drug traffickers, he added.
The spokesperson warned that both dealers and traders using plastic bags for packaging are committing a crime and will be arrested.
“Use the approved environmental friendly and hygienic packaging bags instead of indulging in such criminal acts,” he advised.
Article 10 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 states that any person who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
