{{Police yesterday seized two trucks ferrying about 10 tonnes of smuggled plants locally known as Umushikiri/Kabaruka.}}
Police in Bugesera district confiscated the first truck with number plate RAB 172N after the owner, Jean Bosco Nzabonimpa, abandoned it and ran away. He was later arrested after an investigation.
Police also recovered a Ugandan Fuso lorry number UAM 979 V, in Nyabugogo in Nyarugenge district, loaded and abandoned by the driver with more than 7 tonnes of the plant.
Police is hunting the driver, Charles Kalisa, who vanished after realising Police was following him. Police had been tipped-off by residents.
The plant, mainly smuggled through Uganda and Tanzania via porous borders, is allegedly on high demand in Asia as a raw material for production of perfumes and other cosmetics.
The Central Region Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Urbain Mwiseneza, lauded the public for providing Police with timely information which leads to the arrest of such criminals.
SSP Mwiseneza also called upon the public to stop the illegal acts. “It is not only punished by the law but also destroys the environment.”
Article 416 of the penal code provides for punishment to anyone who cuts trees or who causes others to do so. Punishments can be a prison term of six months to two years and a fine of Frw300, 000 to Frw2 million or one of these penalties.
However, the same law provides for anyone seeking to cut any tree to seek authorization from authorities.
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