Rwanda National Police

Assorted goods that were being smuggled into the country were seized in separate Police operations conducted on Tuesday in Rubavu, Burera and Nyamagabe districts.

The intercepted goods include electronics and electric equipment, foodstuff, clothes, shoes, liquors and energy drinks.

In Rubavu, the Police spokesperson for the Western region Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira said, one Martine Nakabonye was intercepted in Rubavu Sector, Buhaza Cell in Gabiro Village with some of the goods sneaked into the country through a porous border.

“Nakabonye was intercepted by the community night patrol with a bale of clothes. They handed the goods to the Police, who in turn handed them over to the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) in Rubavu,” CIP Gasasira said.

In Nyamagabe, the Southern region Police spokesperson, CIP Twizere Karekezi, said the smuggled goods were intercepted at a snap-checkpoint mounted in Kagano Cell in Kitabi Sector.

“The goods that include 12 rolls of electric cables and a sack of shoes were being smuggled from DR. Congo. The smuggler was traveling in a public travel agency from Rusizi to Kigali,” CIP Karekezi said.

Meanwhile, in Burera district, smuggled sacks of maize flour, 162 bottles of Novida as well as trafficked contrabands that include Leaving Waragi, African Gin and Eagle Waragi were impounded in Mutara Village of Rwasa Cell in Gahunga Sector.

Police warned of continued operations against all sorts of fraud and smuggling, and called upon the general public to strengthen partnership and information sharing on people involved in black business.

By law, seized goods and automobiles used in smuggling are auctioned.