By Kamugisha Kabahweza Allan
A recent operation between URA and Interpol successfully recovered stolen vehicles from United Kingdom in Uganda. The teams, on July 23, 2024, upon receiving intelligence from the non-intrusive inspection team, verified a container that had the two Toyota RAV4s 2020 models, which they found had fabricated chassis numbers attached.
According to Wanjalo Moses, the former Head of the Joint Port Control Unit, the vehicles are being held in the DAKS Courier’s Bond, Mukono, as investigations into the matter continue to apprehend the suspects.
“We received intelligence reports about a container originating from the Port of London Gateway, destined for Kampala. Once the container landed, we swung into action in collaboration with Interpol and found two motor vehicles with fabricated chassis numbers placed on top of the originals,” Wanjalo said.
He noted that the vehicles had been shipped using false log books.
Interpol Officer SCP Obwona Joseph explained that the origin of the stolen vehicles was ascertained through digital checks.
“We searched into the INTERPOL i24/7 Data System of reported stolen motor vehicles and found the original chassis numbers of the two vehicles that had been reported stolen in the UK,” Obwona explained.
He noted that the joint operation demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration between national authorities and international organizations in combating vehicle-related crime and ensuring public safety.
“Uganda haven for stolen cars” was a headline in The Observer in November 2021. According to the reporter, Uganda was the biggest destination of choice for many stolen high-value sports utility vehicles, mostly from Europe.
According to a BBC report, “hundreds of thousands of cars are brought in and out of Southampton docks every year, and police say stolen vehicles being shipped out for sale in Africa is a major problem for the UK.”
Implication:
Wanjalo highlighted that illegal activities such as importing stolen motor vehicles into Uganda spoil the image of the country.
