Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyarugenge District have impounded an Isuzu Trooper registration number RAB 761U, that was carrying assorted smuggled goods.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie Gorett Umutesi, the Central region Police spokesperson, said the vehicle was impounded on April 11, after information reached the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) that it was transporting smuggled goods.

The goods that include 10 bales of secondhand clothes—caguwa—and saucepans were first smuggled and hidden at Kiti kinyoni before smugglers hired the intercepted vehicle to transport them to the final destination.

“The driver identified as Alphonse Nzabahimana, well knowing that what he was doing was illegal, tried to beat security by taking the murram routes through Rwezamenyo Sector so as not to be caught by the RPU,” CIP Umutesi said.

She said the driver when asked for tax payments proof showed ignorance and said he was only a transporter.

“People are now aware of the bad economic impact of illegal trade and are helping us in fighting it through sharing information on smugglers and means used,” she said.

The impounded vehicle and goods were handed over to the Revenue Protection Unit for further management. By law, any driver caught transporting smuggled is fined US$5000 while the vehicle and seized goods are auctioned.