Rwanda National Police

Counterfeit products valued in millions of francs have been seized in the City of Kigali in an operation code named “wipe-out” conducted jointly by the Rwanda National Police and the international police body – Interpol.

Among the forged goods confiscated in an operation conducted on June 17 include 500 print cartridges, 15 sharp television sets, vim, a washing powder and other Uniliver products.

Others include 30 boxes of baygon, an insect-side, 30 cartons of royco, a food flavor, nido, a powdered milk and forged Nike, sharp and lacoste products like shoes and T-shirts.

Wipe-out is an operation conducted in the Eastern and Southern Africa Police chiefs’ cooperation organization member countries to combat cross-border crimes including trafficking illicit and counterfeit goods.

Normally, the operation is conducted concurrently in all EAPCCO and SARPCCO member states between 21st and 26 of April, but Rwanda postponed the exercise because this is a genocide commemoration period, Senior Supt. Urbain Mwiseneza, the head of the operation said.

Owners and representatives from companies whose brands were forged, Rwanda Bureau of Standards, private sector, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ministry of Commerce and Rwanda Development Board also took part in the operation to help identify illicit or counterfeit goods in the market.

SSP Mwiseneza warned the business community against counterfeiting and selling such products adding that consumable goods pose danger to people’s health.

“Traders should verify products they buy and as certificates of originality to avoid falling prey because both counterfeiting and selling are punishable under the Rwandan law” SSP Mwiseneza said.

Under article 377 of the penal code, any person who commits an offence of piracy shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of Rwf2 million to Rwf10 million.

Under article 382, any person who retails forged products faces a fine of Rwf20, 000 and Rwf100, 000.

Under the two articles, however, products are also seized.

“We are now going to make a dossier and forward it to prosecution so that those connected to these illegal business face justice,” he added.

SSP Mwiseneza said the operation will continue to other parts of the country and appealed to brand owners to always report if they think their products have been forged.

Jean de Dieu Kamurase, Inspector of Industries in Rwanda Bureau of Standards also appealed to Rwandans to report such duplicated products on the market.

Oelof du Plooy, an investigator for LMS, an organization that has rights on Nike and Lacoste, commended the RNP for the operation.
“We will continue to work with Police institutions to fight those who forge our

products like shoes and T-shirts,” Plooy said.

“If you are buying an LMS product which is very cheat, chances of taking forged products are high because we deal in quality,”