KIGALI - The Director of Revenue Protection Department (RPD), Robert Mugabe, has said that they have identified a group of five people who have been smuggling goods into the country claiming the goods are on transit to the neighboring countries.

Speaking to The New Times in a telephone interview, Mugabe, said that the group includes Deo Nizurugero who was arrested last week in Kigali. Nizurugero told RRA officials at Gatuna border post, that the goods he was transporting were destined for Goma, only to get to Kigali and off load them from a warehouse in Gikondo Industrial Park.

Ignance Muhire, also a shareholder of the seized goods, was also arrested the same day after he was caught attempting to bribe an RPD officer with Rwf5m.

"In partnership with the police, we are still searching for the other three who are believed to be hiding in Uganda,” Mugabe said.

Among those on the run is Longin Rudasingwa who is believed to be a shareholder of the seized goods which were valued at about Rwf 40 million.

Mugabe revealed that this was the third time the group had smuggled goods into the country using the same trick.
"One of those who were arrested told us that this was their third time. But were are now carrying out a thorough investigations to see if what they said is true and if there are other people who use the same trick to smuggle goods into the country.” Mugabe said.

He noted that most of the smuggled goods are from Uganda.

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