By Elizabeth Nakiru, Media Management and Correspondence by Philip Ofubo David, Customs
The URA Oraba Enforcement team in West Nile together with the Yumbe leadership and security agencies joined efforts to nab smugglers in Yumbe and Koboko districts who were sidestepping the official customs routes and evading taxes.
During the operation, a total of 27 roadside illicit fuel sellers were apprehended in both Yumbe and Koboko selling contaminated fuel that was established to be harmful to both their health and environment.
An Ethiopian national and store owner, a one Galana Galacha was also curbed through intelligence shared by a URA confidential informer which led to the discovery of assorted smuggled items being sold to community members in Bidi bidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district.
Upon verification, the following recoveries were made: 40 cartons x 25 bars of bar soap, 4 Motorcycles, one of which was a means of transportation, 22bags x 25 kgs of rice, 17 cartons of bubble gum, 17 cartons x 2.5 kgs of powder milk, brand nido, 11 Jerrycans x 20 litters of cooking oil, and 5 cartons x 50 bombers of super match.
After the arrests, some local community members threatened violence towards the LCV of Koboko asserting claims of sanctioning arrests against them. They also vandalized property at the URA station.
URA does not condone violence and calls upon Ugandans to respect the rule of law and also avoid trading in smuggled items.
Offence management is under way.
