Police seize $12,500 of illegal goods including stolen food aid

André Ndayambaje, the Director General of the National Police of Burundi

The police seized a large quantity of counterfeit, illegal or smuggled products in Burundi, a new report has revealed. The December seizure was the result of cooperation between police forces in East Africa designed to tackle transnational crime.

In a press release published Friday 6 January, the Director General of the National Police, André Ndayambaje, says “the estimated value of the seized items was BIF 21,283,000 ($12,520)” essentially made up of prohibited drinks, various pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs from the WFP.

The products were seized in Operation FAGIA OPSON II carried out jointly between police forces of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) on 15-16 December 2015.

The EAPCCO enables member state to jointly combat human and drug trafficking, terrorism, maritime piracy, and financial crimes.

The operation was an effort to combat organised transnational crimes within the members of EAPCCO namely Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Seychelles and Comoros.

During the operation, the police also destroyed a number of traditional factories where prohibited or counterfeit drinks were made.

In addition, 26 criminals were arrested in the operation.
On the fringe of the operation, the police seized some quantity of marijuana, a prohibited fishing net, 19 bicycles and five motorcycles that had been stolen were seized, and arrested 14 professional thieves. Also, 97 itinerant traders were called in for questioning.

The Director General of the Burundi National Police presented the results of the FAGIA OPSON II Operation in Burundi. The declaration he made did not give details of transnational criminal activities or culprits.