Police’s Revenue Protection Unit has impounded a truck loaded with 10 tonnes of coffee being smuggled to Uganda, the tax body has said.

Drocella Mukashyaka, the deputy commissioner in charge of taxpayer services at Rwanda Revenue Authority, said the Ugandan-registered truck had brought goods into the country and was bound to return empty, but instead loaded coffee beans without clearance papers.

"We learnt about the possible smuggling of coffee and the Revenue Protection Unit acted swiftly and intercepted the truck,” said Mukashyaka.

The coffee had been transported from Bugesera to Kigali, where it was loaded illegally, the driver of the intercepted truck said.

Mukashyaka commended the Police for their continued efforts in ensuring that no illegal business is conducted on the Rwandan territory.

According to Mukashyaka, there is no need for anyone to violate procedures like acquiring certificate of origin since RRA does not impose any tax on exports.

Dr Celestin Gatarayiha, the coffee division manager at National Agriculture Export Development Board, said smuggling coffee has a negative impact on both the exporter and the country.

He said the driver of the truck will be charged as the law stipulates.

Investigations are still underway to apprehend all those connected to this illegal business, officials said.

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