SRPS Arrests Bugiri Cigarette Smugglers

By Abubaker Mukose in Bugiri CONTRABAND Supermatch cigarettes concealed underneath the chassis of a Fuso truck were on Tuesday impounded in Bugiri by the Special Revenue Protection Services (SRPS) personnel. The 10 cartons of cigarettes, packed in sacks and tied with ropes underneath an empty truck, were intercepted at around 7:30am between Bugiri town and Naluwerere trading centre on the Tororo-Iganga highway. The driver of the truck, Abdallah Ivulabe, 29, of Dabani, Busia, and his colleague Willy Ssalongo of Kawempe, Kampala, were arrested and held at Bugiri Police Station. SRPS spokesman, Lt. Ba-Hoku Barigye, said they intercepted the truck after a tip off from informers. He said the vehicle had on many occasions been seen plying the route without merchandise. “As we try to tighten on the smugglers, they are improvising advanced ways of transporting smuggled goods. They have now moved from smuggling in cars to trucks which they drive around empty to confuse SRPS officials manning custom check-points,” Barigye said. The Bugiri DPC, Patrick Mugizi, said the suspects would be produced in court and charged with smuggling. “They are liable on conviction to imprisonment of not less than four years or a sh5m fine or both,” he said. Ends