Rwanda | Three arrested for smuggling

Suspects with smuggled liquors

Three people have been arrested by Revenue Protection Department in partnership with the Police over smuggling.

Celestin Mutsindashyaka from Muhanga district, Jean Marie Burere from Goma (DRC) and Onesphore Hategekimana from Musanze districts were arrested while transporting smuggled liquors.

Mutsindashyaka was arrested on Wednesday in Gicumbi district with 71 boxes of African Gin from Uganda.

In different case, Jean Marie Burere and Hategekimana Onesphore were arrested on Monday at Giticyinyoni, Nyarugenge district with 45 bottles Martel, black label and J&B whiskies they had smuggled from DRC.

According to Superintendent Emmanuel Karasi, the commanding officer of Revenue Protection Department, most smuggled goods seized by the department come from neighbouring countries especially Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Karasi added that different non declared goods, foreign vehicles with expired entry cards, have been seized by the department. Other goods regularly seized by Revenue Protection department include coffee, minerals soaps, clothes, energy drinks and motorcycle spare parts among others.

The seizure of these items is the result of Police check point and patrols in different districts in collaboration with citizens, other security organs and community policing efforts through sharing of information.

Rwanda Revenue Authority legislation on non payment of taxes stipulates that the goods seized have to be sold to pay for taxes.