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Kinyarwanda
A vehicle reportedly stolen from Kenya last year, was on November 13 interceptedat Rusizi border post as it crossed into Rwanda from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The luxurious Toyota Harrier, which was at the time wearing a Congolese registration number, CGO 5815AB|22, was intercepted by police officers at the border after they verified with the Interpol I-24/7 criminal database system, which indicated that the vehicle in question was actually stolen.
It's original Kenyan number plate, according to the logs in the I-24/7 system, is KBX 335U.
Rwanda National Police has so far secured all the border posts with the Interpol Communication tool that connects all the 190 Interpol member countries and allows investigators access Interpol’s range of criminal databases to search and cross check data on suspected criminals or wanted persons, stolen and lost travel documents, stolen motor vehicles, fingerprints, DNA profiles, stolen administrative documents and stolen works of art.
According to the police, the suspect, a Congolese national who was driving the stolen vehicle at the time, was headed to Uvira from Bukavu, through Rwanda. The suspect claimed he had also bought the vehicle from another Congolese national.
“Rwanda cannot, and will never be a transit or a destination of any stolen property or illegal dealings. We have previously intercepted several vehicles stolen from other countries and handed them back to authorities of their respective countries,” said the Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa.
He added that, “We have the tools and the skills to detect stolen vehicles or any other illegal substance that wrongdoers may want to smuggle into or through Rwanda.”
"We are still establishing contacts with our counterparts in Kenya so that the vehicle is handed over to the rightful owner, and continue to work together to track those behind this theft, as is the norm."
RNP has over the years intercepted about 20 foreign stolen cars, majority stolen from Kenya and have since been returned to their rightful owners, and arrested suspects also deported to countries where they are wanted.
Last year alone, RNP intercepted five stolen vehicles as they were being smuggled through Rwanda. In February this year, RNP also handed over two vehicles to Kenyan authorities, which were reported stolen from Nairobi with an intention of smuggling them into the DR Congo through Rwanda.
Rwanda National Police currently enjoys a unique partnership with regional and international Police institutions and organizations, which has played a vital role in the fight against cross-border crimes, include vehicle theft.
