Kenyan truck nabbed with smuggled goods

Over the weekend, the Revenue Protection Department (RPD) seized a Kenyan truck with whisky and wine worth over Rwf 3m that were being smuggled into the country from Democratic Republic of Congo at Rubavu major border crossing commonly referred to as Grande Barrière.The impounded goods included expensive liquors and wine such as Red label, J&B, red wine and Gordon’s.The truck driver claimed to be in transit from Goma without knowing that his vehicle, registration number KIV 119H, was loaded with smuggled goods.“I was not aware that there were goods in the car. Probably they were loaded without my knowledge,” he pleaded.Mwangi’s pleas were in vain as he was ordered to pay a fine amounting to US$5000 (approximately Rwf3.3m) before he could recover the goods and his vehicle.Evode Ndatsikira, a Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) official in the area told the media that products which are confiscated while attempting to dodge taxes are fined in accordance to the provisions of EAC customs union protocol.“The EAC Customs Management Act provides that the goods as well as the vessel be confiscated and in circumstances like this we shall follow the procedures,” he said.Ndatsikira warned against smuggling of goods because as much as it is a criminal offence, the practice also robs the government of valuable taxes thereby jeopardising the economy.“When untaxed goods enter the market, it creates an unfair trading ground which in turn affects genuine traders and retards their businesses,” he said.Meanwhile, at the other border post (petit barierr) another Fuso truck was seized last week after offloading smuggled goods in the same area.Rubavu District and neighbouring Goma town are renowned centres of illegal trade since goods are easily smuggled between the two countries but the practice has reportedly reduced due to the ongoing Congolese insurgency in North Kivu that has displaced thousands.

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Kenyan truck nabbed with smuggled goods