A joint operation mounted last week by Interpol and the Rwanda National Police has recovered seven stolen vehicles that had been listed by the International Police.

According to figures released by the two security organs, six vehicles were stolen from Japan while one was stolen from Kenya. The crackdown coincided with similar operations in Burundi and Tanzania.

Service Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were the most targeted type during the two-day operation. During the operation, traffic police also netted 51 vehicles whose documents were not corresponding.

The operation also targeted vehicles that had entered the country illegally. Two vehicles from Congo and Burundi that had entered the country contrary to standard procedure were impounded.

The cars lacked proper clearance and have since been handed over to the Revenue Protection Department (RPD) for further scrutiny. During the operation 58 vehicles were towed. 

Out of these, 39 of them have since been returned to their owners after rectifying the small inconsistencies with their documents while the rest are at RPD awaiting further investigations.

Police Spokesperson John Uwamungu, explained that the operation aimed at recovering stolen cars reported by Interpol, those with contradicting documents and vehicles that were in the country illegally.

He said that the operation was carried out under the framework of the East African Police Chiefs (EAPC) which brings together police chiefs across the region with an aim of curbing crime in the sub region.

"A directive from Interpol Headquarters in Lyon requested our Sub regional office based in Nairobi to carry out the responsibility and we have so far had impressive results,” he said.

This is the second operation following a similar one held mid last year and comes at a time when the rate of vehicles imported by Rwandans is on increase according to available statistics from Traffic Police.

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