A thief has 40 days, the same was of the habitual cigarette smuggler who had been tormenting Karuma.
Following intelligence networks, the smuggler was caught last Sunday along Moyo – South Sudan borderline approximately 400km from Karuma, loading the contraband. The smuggler had played “clever” and used a ferry from Moyo to Adjumani at Laropi.Unfortunately, this did not save him because the URA team was monitoring the truck.
“Our high-level intelligence had it that an Army green box body truck reg no. UAX 661Y was being loaded with Supermatch cigarettes in Moyo and that the smuggler intended to use charcoal to conceal the contraband,” Peter Sebyoto an officer part of the operation explained.
The culprit and his driver a one Richard Yiga when got, confidently declared charcoal. However, when they were ordered to park the truck to confirm the actual contents, it was discovered that they had concealed 600 cartons of supermatch cigarettes behind charcoal bags.
Although offence management is underway, Abel Kagumire, the Commissioner Customs explained that cigarettes are considered contrabands which cannot be released but rather destroyed at the cost of the offender.
A contraband is any illegal goods prohibited by law within a country to possess, transport, sell, import or export. Other examples include; drugs, medicines, used computers & refrigerators and polyethene bags below 30micron.
URA strives to increase fairness in all its processes thereby liberating Ugandans from economic saboteurs engaging in illicit Trade. The general public is encouraged to report to URA all suspicious trade practices in their areas to enable URA create a level trading ground for all legitimate Traders.
Additional Reporting by Immaculate Wanyenze
