Correspondence by Peter Sebyoto
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the Karuma Checkpoint Enforcement team’s antenna picked up intel about a suspicious Box Body Fuso truck registration number UBD 230F full of contraband snaking its way through Olwiyo trading center approximately 50 km away from Karuma.
The checkpoint is among the most strategic ones along the Northern route and hundreds of well-orchestrated smuggling ploys have crumbled here. karuma’s form would continue.
Using the tactic of controlled delivery, the team mounted the checkpoint and three hours later, amid a heavy downpour, the much-awaited FUSO emerged. It was flagged to stop but the adamant driver preferred wearing his ‘Vin Diesel’ armour and speeding past the checkpoint.
This wasn’t Hollywood and his efforts to get away were feeble. He was intercepted under 2 km along Karuma – Kampala road. The truck was escorted back to the Karuma checkpoint yard for thorough verification which revealed 58 Cartons x 50 bombas x 200 sticks of smuggled Marshal Cigarettes; made in – CHINA.
The suspects were forwarded to the URA Intelligence team for offence management.
Smuggling brings financial setbacks and can also result in jail time for culprits. Additionally, motor vehicles found conveying smuggled goods risk forfeiture to the state. Best believe it is never worth it.
