{Rwanda National Police (RNP) on December 24, handed over two stolen and recovered vehicles to Ugandan police that were impounded with the help of Interpol’s I-24/7 system.}
One of the vehicles handed over is a Toyota Hiace registered with a plate number UAN 041F that was intercepted on December 05 as it crossed into Rwanda through Gatuna border as it carried a group of people that were heading to Kigali for a Christian crusade.
The other vehicle is a heavy duty equipment transport drop deck trailer with a Ugandan plate number UAM 716C. The trailer was intercepted in October as it crossed over to Rwanda from DRC.
Both vehicles were stolen in Japan; RNP handed them to Ugandan police since they were registered in Uganda. RNP’s police spokesperson ACP Celestin Twahirwa handed over the keys and the vehicle documents to Kigezi region Deputy Police Commander Senior Superintendent Enock Ndyomugenyi in an event held at RNP’s headquarters.
“The officers intercepted the vehicles after using an Interpol tool installed at all our border posts, which revealed that the vehicles were on Red Notice after being stolen from Japan,” said ACP Twahirwa.
“Rwanda cannot, and will never be a transit or a destination of any stolen property or illegal dealings. We have previously intercepted several vehicles stolen from other countries and handed them back to authorities of their respective countries.”
He added that, “We immediately impounded the vehicles and we are handing them over to Uganda since they are registered in Uganda. Since the beginning of this year we have handed over four stolen and recovered vehicle to Uganda and three to Kenya.”
Upon receiving the vehicles, Uganda’s Senior Superintendent Ndyomugenyi praised the cooperation between the two countries.
“We have reached a level where offenders cannot escape to anywhere; advanced technologies have proved it and we are very thankful to our Rwandan counterparts for this cooperation that leads to making our region safer,” he said.
RNP has over the years intercepted about 20 foreign stolen cars, majority stolen from Kenya and have since been returned to their rightful owners, and arrested suspects also deported to countries where they are wanted.
Last year alone, RNP intercepted five stolen vehicles as they were being smuggled through Rwanda. In February this year, RNP also handed over two vehicles to Kenyan authorities, which were reported stolen from Nairobi with an intention of smuggling them into the DR Congo through Rwanda.
Rwanda National Police currently enjoys a unique partnership with regional and international Police institutions and organizations, which has played a vital role in the fight against cross-border crimes, include vehicle theft.
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