Other seized goods include five boxes of skin bleaching products and five boxes of powdered milk.
Seven people were also arrested in the operation. They include owners of the smuggled goods, the driver, two cyclists who had been hired to transport the goods to different destinations in Kigali, and those who were acting as spotters to direct the driver and cyclists on the whereabouts of Police to prevent arrest.
Police also impounded another vehicle, Toyota Ipsum type, which was being used by spotters to surveil the whereabouts of the Police.
The goods were smuggled from Nyamasheke District before they were intercepted in Kigali following a rip-off from residents privy to the fraud, according to RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera.
He identified those arrested as Felicien Nteziryayo, 39, Samuel Mpanuwumva, 49, Adelphine Uwimana, 29, Celestin Sindayigaya, 39, Jean Bosco Habagusenga, 28, Alfred Mujyanama, 32 and Jean Marie Vianney Nshimiyimana, 28.
“Police got information about two people; Alfred Mujyanama and Jean Marie Vianney Nshimiyimana, who were directing cyclists (Sindayigaya and Habagusenga) on phone on which routes they should use to avoid being spotted by the Police. They were all arrested,” CP Kabera said.
Sindayigaya and Habagusenga were at the time transporting a sack of clothes, each. They had picked the sacks from Nteziryayo, the driver, at Giti k’inyoni.
“Nteziryayo was also lured into the Police trap and arrested. He then led Police officers to Ruliba, where he had parked the Fuso truck loaded with other sacks of goods and covered with bricks. At Ruliba, Police found other two people; Adelphine Uwimana and Samuel Mpanuwumva connected to the smuggling ring, who were also taken into custody,” CP Kabera explained.
It is believed that the Toyota Ipsum vehicle belong to some of the owners of the seized goods, but they managed to flee during the operation.
The suspects along with the exhibit were handed over to RIB as the search for other members of the smuggling rackets continues.
CP Kabera warned against fraud and smuggling, and commended the impact of community policing in fighting such malpractices, which also bring outlawed and harmful products on the Rwandan market like skin bleaching oils and creams.
Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods and automobile used in smuggling, are auctioned. The driver also faces a fine of US$5,000.
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.
Article 266 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who produces, sells, or prescribes harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substance or any other products derived from plants, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.
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