The Revenue Protection Unit (RPU), a Rwanda National Police arm attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority to fight fraud and smuggling, has intercepted a truck in Nyabihu District carrying about 60 boxes of Drostdy Hof wine smuggled into the country through an illegal border.
The truck, registration number RAA 290I was intercepted at about 1:00am on Tuesday at a a check point in Mukamira Sector.
The liquor is believed to have been smuggled from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Chief Supt. Sam Bugingo, the Commanding Officer of RPU, said that the truck was tracked following information provided by members of the public in Rubavu, to a check point where it was impounded in Nyabihu.
The evaded taxes amounted to over Rwf2.5 million, according to CSP Bugingo.
“The driver of the truck identified as Alexandre Mugenama, has since been taken into custody and the vehicle and goods impounded as the law states,” Chief Supt. Bugingo said.
Under the East African Community Customs Management Act, the driver of the vehicle intercepted in smuggling is fined US$5, 000 while the vehicle and the impounded goods are auctioned.
“We received information from someone, who was conversant with the fraud and acting on that relevant information, we traced the vehicle which was en route to Kigali and tracked it until it reached at the check point in Mukamira where it was stopped,” he added.
“Our strong cooperation with the people has played an integral part in fighting smuggling and fraud. We advise people ton do their businesses in a legal way because in one way or another they will be known and appropriate action will be taken against them.”
Meanwhile, the driver of the truck told Police that the smuggled goods belonged to the owner of the vehicle, whom he identified as Emmanuel Tuyisenge.
“Investigations will determine if the driver’s claims on the alleged owner of the goods and vehicle are also true and if they come out positive, appropriate action will also be taken against him.”
Article 369 of the penal code states that anyone found guilty of tax evasion shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of between three and six months and a fine equal to the evaded tax.
Chief Supt. Bugingo said currently, liquors, cigarettes, banned bleaching lotions and Kitenge, a traditional wear, are the most intercepted smuggled goods especially in the Western region.
RNP
UM– USEKE.RW
