Rwanda National Police

Police in Muhanga District have impounded a vehicle that was loaded with bales of smuggled used clothes and shoes. 

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Police in Muhanga District received a phone call from a whistlebrower at about 5am on Wednesday reporting the vehicle registration number RAD 250M, Prado TXL type, transporting smuggled bales of clothes and shoes. 

The vehicle was headed to Kigali from Ngororero District, according to CIP Karekezi.

"A snap-check was mounted in Nyarusange Sector, Mutongati Cell, Murambi Village but the driver hit the roadblock and fled," the spokesperson said.

However, they got a flat tyre due to the sharp objects that had been used at the roadblock. 

This prompted the smugglers to make an abrupt stop in Muhanga town and gave the punctured tyre to a motorcyclist to take them for repair.

"The officers, who were in the operation to locate the vehicle first arrested the motorcyclist, who helped them to locate the smugglers' hideout. They recovered combined 10 bales of clothes and shoes in the vehicle," Karekezi said. 

Two people including the driver, who were on board were taken into custody while the vehicle and the goods were impounded to Nyamababuye Police station.

They'll be handed over to RPU (Revenue Protection Unit), which will also take up the case on the two suspected smugglers, said Karekezi. 

By law, a vehicle used in smuggling as well as the smuggled goods are auctioned, while the driver is handed a financial penalty of US$5000.