The Police Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) has arrested three people in connection with smuggling into the country at least 7,228 kilogrammes of second-hand clothes from neighbouring countries.

The suspects, arrested last week, have been identified as Conorath Nisingizwe, Eric Bimenyimana and Joseph Munyampeta.

They were yesterday paraded before the media at RPU premises in Gikondo.

Nisingizwe was arrested in Musanze with 29 bundles of second-hand clothes.

According to the Central Region police spokesperson, Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, about 2.5 tonnes of the clothes were seized while in transit to Kigali from DR Congo, while the other consignments were intercepted in different operations.

Nisingizwe who is suspected to have been facilitating the smuggling and deliveries, told the media that he had ordered the clothes which were delivered to him in Rubavu by sailors from Goma through Lake Kivu.

Police says Nisingizwe was working on behalf of Munyampeta, the owner of the 29 seized bundles.

Munyampeta also admitted the ownership of the bundles, adding that he had actually sent Nisingizwe to follow up on the delivery of the merchandise in Kigali only to be intercepted and arrested half-way through the journey (in Musanze).

Robert Mugabe, the Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Investigation and Enforcement Department at Rwanda Revenue Authority, said about Rwf10 million was supposed to be paid for the 2.5 tonnes alone.

Supt. Hitayezu said: "We are aware that more people tend to get involved in such illegal businesses towards the end of the year, that’s why we have stepped up our operations.”

 "We conduct random operations and involve the public through awareness or whistleblowers. As a result, we have intercepted smugglers. In order to recover the taxes, we also seize these products and inform RRA, which imposes fines on the culprits.”

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