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Rwanda National Police

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NORTHERN PROVINCE: Over 72Kgs of trafficked polythene bags seized

Separate Police operations conducted in Rulindo and Burera districts on Monday seized over 72kgs of banned plastic bags, which had been trafficked into the country through illegal border posts.

About 12kgs of the non-biodegradable bags were impounded in Bushoki Sector of Rulindo District from a suspected trafficker identified as Jean Damascene Samvura, 38.

Other 60kgs were being trafficked in a vehicle Hiace RAA 986F, which was intercepted in Gahunga Sector, Burera District.

The vehicle was impounded to Gahunga Police station where the alleged owners of the polythene bags identified as Cassien Nteziyaremye, 38, and Beatrice Harelimana, 30, are also detained. 

The driver of the vehicle parked on the roadside and fled after seeing Police officers, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson of the Northern region, said.

He added that the plastic bags were sneaked into the country through porous borders in Burera.

"Samvura was traveling in a public vehicle en-route to Kigali. When he heard that there was a police check-point ahead, he disembarked from the vehicle, boarded a bicycle," said CIP Rugigana. 

"Police officers became suspicious of what he had on the bicycle, stopped and arrested him after finding out that he had plastic bags. He was trafficking the banned bags to Kayonza District."

"In a similar operation in Burera, Police arrested Nteziyaremye and Harelimana transporting the outlawed plastic bags to Musanze District."

He observed that these illicit traders often use porous entry points “but we are alert, communities on borderlines are equally responsive in sharing information.”

“Each of the two separate operations was based on credible information we received from residents after they saw the suspects entering the country through illegal borderlines transporting illegal goods,” CIP Rugigana added.  

He warned against dealing in outlawed products, which is punishable by law and advised the public to use alternative packaging bags which are eco-friendly. 

“We caution anyone, who in anyway, attempts to deal in polythene bags...it is illegal and punishable by law.”

The manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.

Under article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items, is liable to dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times of the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.

In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.