The big TV sets were seized on Tuesday, September 22, from two people; Innocent Twagiramungu, 41, and Athanase Habarurema, 36, both security guards, who were also taken into custody.
Twagiramungu is a security guard at Tamara Hotel located in Gisenyi Sector, Kivumu cell where the TV sets were recovered while Habarurema works at the nearby hospitality establishment called ;Kwa Nyanja'.
The two suspects are believed to be members of a smuggling ring and are largely responsible for storing or hiding the goods after they are sneaked into the country.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region said that on Tuesday at about 11pm, Police in Rubavu received information about people who had just smuggled TV sets from DR Congo and hid them at Tamara Hotel with the help of Twagiramungu and Habarurema.
"Police raided the hotel where the ten television sets were recovered and the two suspects taken into custody. The hotel management was not aware that their facility was being used for illegal acts although they had previously suspected their security guard (Twagiramungu) to be working with wrongdoers," CIP Karekezi said.
"Investigations are still underway to know if there are other electronics or goods they smuggled and to trace and arrest all members of this smuggling ring."
The spokesperson thanked the resident who was quick to report the fraud. He commended the impact of community policing in fighting and preventing crimes, including smuggling and fraud.
Under the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.
A vehicle used in fraud and smuggling is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.
Nicole Kamanzi M.
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/ten-television-sets-seized-from-smugglers-in-rubavu
