Rwanda National Police

Police operations conducted in Musanze, Gisagara and Nyamagabe districts, on Saturday, seized 101, 830 pieces of banned non-biodegradable plastic bags, which had been trafficked into the country.

The polythene bags were recovered from four traffickers, who were taken into custody.

One of the suspects identified as Leonard Dusingizimana, 38, was arrested in Kiryi village, Kigombe cell of Muhoza sector in Musanze district with 100 cartons (20,000 pieces) of polythene bags.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that Dusingizimana was at the time traveling in a public vehicle.

“During the usual Police operation, they stopped the vehicle, searched the luggage and found plastic bags concealed in two bags,” said CIP Rugigana.

“None of the passengers claimed ownership of the bags when Police asked, but with the help of the CCTV camera installed in the bus, Police was able to identify and arrest the owner, Dusingizimana,” he added.

Thacien Nshimiyimfura, 34, was also intercepted at a checkpoint mounted in Musebeya Sector of Nyamagabe District with 400 cartons of polythene bags.

Nshimiyimfura was at the time trafficking the plastic bags on a bicycle en route to Kibubwe sector where he intended to sell them in his shop.

In Buseruka trading center of Muganza sector in Gisagara District, Gracien Mutangana, 44, was arrested with 1800 pieces of polythene bags and Damascene Nzabonankira with 30 pieces. They had sneaked the banned bags into the country from Burundi.

Under 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 of 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.