BURERA-Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), yesterday, intercepted and impounded smuggled goods, disguised and packed in cartons used to pack drinking water from Uganda.

The contraband included Uganda Waragi, Host Waragi and Redbull,.

The owner of the products identified as Sisi Nzita, reportedly disappeared, while the driver, Lambart Harorimana, is currently being detained at Cyanika Police Station.

According to Erneste Karasira, the RAA Coordinator in the Northern Province, the truck and the products, which were supposed to pay customs tax worth Frw1.4m, will be kept at the RRA offices, as investigations continue.

"It’s a challenge for the anti-smuggling units to gather information that leads to the arrest of those involved in smuggling and trafficking of illegal products,’’ said Karasira, adding that the smugglers are always coming up with new tricks.

Most of the illegal products are alcoholic, including Chief Waragi.

The truck driver, Harorimana, denied having a hand in the smuggling alleging that his truck was hired to transport goods.

"We brought these products from Uganda, I didn’t know about the contents. I was told its just water c, until we reached here,” the driver said.

 According to the customs rules, when a vehicle is caught with smuggled products, it is auctioned, unless there is proof that a driver is unaware of the contraband.

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