WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI—The boat, carrying smuggled goods and peoples from the DRC would never reach its destination, as Revenue Protection Division intervened.

On Friday September 14, around midnight, boats and goods were seized on Lake Kivu, including the engine of a Mercedes Benz, a car-washing machine, lumbering machine, four leather sofas and office equipment.

   Thacien Nsingimana, head of the protection division (RPD) in Nyamasheke and Rusizi Districts said surveillance boats on the lake made the catch.

"Many traders in the area have decided to evade taxes.

They opt to confront us rather than meeting their tax obligations,” said Nsengimana.

Goods had been imported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where they were declared to be in transit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Upon reaching the central African country, they were redirected to Rwanda.

"Smuggling is very common on this lake; we are usually faced with such task of stopping the smuggling activity in the area,” said Nsengimana.

One hundred and fourteen people are claimed to have been on the seized boat together with the goods. Most were heading to Gisenyi.

All of the goods are said to belong to Vincent Twizeyimana, a businessman in the area, but that there are many like him evade tax collection policies.

Two weeks back, RPD arrested over 30 businessmen in both Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts and confiscated their vehicles which were lacking proper documentation.

Cyangugu is one of the most susceptible ports and border towns in Rwanda for smuggling.

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