Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyaruguru District have seized assorted smuggled and illegal products that had been sneaked into the country.

Among the seized products include 53 cartons of non-biodegradable plastic bags banned in Rwanda and 60 koligrammes of palm oil.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the plastic bags were seized from various traders in Ngera Sector.

“The operation was conducted on March 11, jointly by Rwanda National Police and Rwanda Investigation Bureau. The products were seized from four traders, who were also taken into custody,” CIP Karekezi said.

“We would like to commend the role of the public in fighting fraud and other unlawful acts. Fighting criminality and any other illegal acts is the responsibility of every Rwandan, that’s why we have community policing,” he added.

"Fighting fraud and tax evasion means supplementing the national development agenda."

The non-biodegradable polythene bags were outlawed in Rwanda in 2008. Most plastic bags are said to be sold or used in remote shops, bakeries, and butcheries.

According to the law, any individual who sells the banned bags faces a penalty of between Rwf10, 000 and Rwf300,000 while buyers are fined between Rwf5,000 and Rwf100,000.