The Police anti-smuggling unit has discovered a house in Mudende Sector, Rubavu District which was being used as a store for smuggled second hand clothes commonly known as caguwa.
At least 63 bales were recovered when Police officers searched the house located in Rungu Cell, Gahenerezo Village.
One person said to be part of the ring was arrested at the scene, Superintendent of Police (SP) Twizere Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
“A local resident tipped-off the Police about a house in Rubavu District, Mudende Sector, Rungu Cell, Gahenerezo Village used by smugglers as a store for caguwa sneaked into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Indeed, when police officers attached to the anti-smuggling unit searched the house at about midnight, they recovered 63 bales and arrested one person,” SP Karekezi said.
The suspect, who claimed that he was paid Frw50,000 to keep the goods, disclosed that the bales were sneaked into Rwanda, recently, by a notorious smuggler, who is yet to be arrested.
“They were mainly using porous routes in Kibaya and using the same house as the store before smuggling them to other destinations, including Kigali.
The same suspect, still at large, has been implicated in similar crimes several times,” SP Karekezi said.
He thanked the resident, who shared information leading on the illegal acts, and commended the role of the public in fighting and preventing crimes.
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years. Seized smuggled goods are also auctioned.
Article 87 of the law on tax procedures provides an imprisonment of between two and five years, for tax evasion. (End)