By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan
URA enforcement in Bugango has impounded 157 cartons of petroleum jelly, soap, and yeast in an overnight ambush on a Canter tipper registration UAR 075 C.
The petroleum jelly, according to Customs Officer Abdullatif Musau, originated in Tanzania. He explained that they received information from reliable informants about the habitual smuggler traveling from Dar es Salaam.
“We set out a long strategy to last the entire night on prospective routes, and boom, the cloudy early morning gave us early sunshine when we caned our saboteur,” said Musau.
The weekend seizure followed another recent one in which 120 boxes of Santa Lucia spaghetti were intercepted while being transported in a Toyota Ipsum with the registration UAS 312 Y.
Musau noted that the spaghetti marked “Not for Export” originating from Tanzania is flooding the Ugandan market, out-competing the compliant traders.
In accordance with sections 199(iii) and 200(d)(iii) of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), the owners of the impounded vehicles in this operation are liable to a fine not exceeding USD 5,000.
They shall also be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine equal to fifty percent of the dutiable value of the intercepted goods.
