Amstel smuggling increases

Smuggling of 72ml bottles of Burundi Amstel beer into the country has increased in the last two months, a source at the Revenue Protection Department (RPD) has revealed. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the RPD employee explained that large bottles of Amstel are smuggled across the border and sold illegally. “We have recently confiscated a jeep car full of Amstel big bottle from Burundi,” she said. In April this year The New Times reported that Rwanda breweries and soft drinks manufacturer, Bralirwa, was short of Amstel beer and resorted to importing small bottles from its sister company Brarudi in Burundi. Anita Munyaneza, Bralirwa communications manager, denied that there is shortage of Amstel in Rwanda. “The volume production of Amstel in Rwanda is doing very well so there is no reason to import Amstel from Burundi. Those involved in smuggling it from Burundi are doing it to suit their own interests,” she said. Munyaneza acknowledged that Bralirwa had heard rumors that the beer is being smuggled into the country. “If such allegations are confirmed, this would be a situation we cannot accept and if it is the case, we hope that relevant authorities will take adequate steps to resolve the problem,” Munyaneza said. A small bottle of Amstel is sold at Frw500 in most bars in the country while smuggled, bigger bottles are sold for between Frw500 and Frw700. James Rwigamba, an Amstel drinker, says the beer is often unavailable. He revealed that large bottles are sold in Nyamata and along the border of Rwanda and Burundi. When RRA’s Superintendent and Principal Revenue Surveillance Officer, Emmanuel Kalinda, was contacted, he declined to comment on the matter. Ends