Police seize 35 bags of casseterite in Rubavu

Suspect at Gisenyi Police Station (Photo:RNP Media Center)

Police in Rubavu district on Sunday apprehended a Toyota Land cruiser carrying 35 bags containing 1726 kilograms of smuggled casseterite. The vehicle with Congolese number plates CG8675AB19 was intercepted at Rubavu border crossing commonly known as Grand barrière while it attempted to cross into Rwanda. 

Police arrested Suleiman Sobeka 28, the driver who was found with neither identification nor driving license. He is currently detained at Gisenyi Police station as investigation is ongoing.

During questioning, Kabango said that he had been hired by one Charlotte Nyirakanyana, a Congolese national to smuggle the minerals to Rubavu district. 

According to Rubavu District Police Commander (DPC) Superintendent Felix Bizimana Police has stepped up border search to stamp out smuggling attempts.

“Police officers are always on the alert for smuggling attempts. All vehicles to and from the country are thoroughly searched to ensure that no smuggled goods get into or out of Rwanda,” DPC Bizimana said.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege noted that while smugglers apply different tactics to cross the borders with goods into and out of the country, Police has equally deployed several strategies to deal with them.

“All departments involved in anti smuggling have undergone thorough training to deal with smuggling offenses,” Superintendent Badege said. He noted smuggling affects economic welfare of the country as taxes are lost in the process. He further urged business people to embrace doing business legally, that way, they do not have to face losses and serve jail time if apprehended by security forces. “Collective efforts especially through information sharing are important in curbing smuggling,” Badege observed.

Last year Rwanda returned 80 tones of smuggled mineral resources to the Democratic Republic of Congo that had been smuggled into the country.