Ndayambaje, who was traveling in a bus, was intercepted at about 1pm, in Kinini Village, Kirenge Cell of Rusiga Sector with assorted Covid-19 kits.
The seized kits include Covid-19 Ag Rapid test device positive control, Covid-19 Ag Rapid test device negative control, extraction tubes, rapid test device buffer, nasal swabs and extraction tube caps, among others.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Regional Political and Civic Education officer (RPCEO) for the Northern region, said that the arrest of Ndayambaje was part of Police operations to fight smuggling and drug trafficking.
“Police had mounted a check-point along Musanze-Kigali highway. When they searched Ndayambaje’s bag, they recovered the Covid-19 kits in his bag, which he had smuggled into Rwanda from Uganda, and took him into custody,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Ndayambaje argued that he was hired by unnamed person in Butaro Sector, Burera District to deliver them to someone in Kigali.
He added that he was supposed to be paid Rwf250,000 upon delivery of the kits.
SP Ndayisenga warned against trafficking and selling smuggled goods, in particular Covid-19 kits which may be substandard and pose a challenge to the health system in the country.
Ndayambaje was handed over to RIB at Bushoki station for further investigation.
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 87 of Law N° 026/2019 of 18/09/2019 on tax procedures states that; a person who, while intending tax evasion, commits one of the following acts: use of forged documents in his or her accounts; counterfeit and use of documents or materials of the tax administration used for taxation; hiding taxable goods or assets related to business; making a declaration indicating that the taxpayer has not made sales; changing the trade name by a person prosecuted in relation to tax; fraudulent registration of trade under the name of another person; hiding accounting documents from the tax administration or damaging them; use of forged accounting records; commits an offence of tax evasion.
Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than five (5) years.
Leave a Reply