Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) customs enforcement teams in Mbale and Busitema successfully hatched a plan to arrest a rice smuggler and a notorious spare parts smuggler.

The tax body revealed that having dotted the Mbale enforcement radar for aeons, an experienced rice smuggler who relied on counterintelligence finally succumbed to the talons of enforcement’s wide intelligence.

To net the culprits, the URA said, their team split up with some pretending to go to bed while others went for an outing yet in fact, they simply changed cars and continued keeping tabs on the smuggler’s every move.

As the truck entered Mbale town, the driver was disappointed to notice that he had ‘company’, URA narrates. The trailer registration No. KBS659K/ZD5362 was escorted to the Mbale checkpoint where verification revealed 421 bags of rebagged Kenyan rice. Offence management ensued immediately, URA adds.

The Busitema enforcement team had to rely on pinpoint intel and indefatigability to outwit and bust not one but two trucks of a notorious spare parts smuggler. On Wednesday night, they braved the chilly weather and the night to get the truckers’ pants down.

At 4:00 a.m., the trucks UBA465B and UBE462E drove into the hot zone and were duly intercepted in quick succession without any incidents.

Verification was done on Thursday morning revealing the following loot;-

UBA465B

200ctns x 12pcs x 0.5kgs of Grease, COO: China

105ctns x 8pcs of bearings for Light Trucks COO: Germany

19ctns x 48pcs of side mirrors for Light Trucks COO: China

58ctns x 200pcs of spark plugs for saloon cars COO: Japan

3ctns x 200pcs of light fflasher units for light trucks COO: Japan

60ctns x 150pcs of fan belts for light Trucks and saloon cars, COO: China

22ctns x 200pcs of timing belts for light trucks and saloon cars, COO: China.

UBE462E

81ctns x 32pcs of side mirrors for light trucks, COO: China

43ctns x 150pcs of fan belts for light Trucks, COO: China

2ctns x 40pcs of indicator lights for saloon cars

1ctn x 50pcs of reverse horns for light trucks

1ctn x 460pcs of temperature switches for light trucks

1ctn x 100pcs of light flasher units for light trucks

1ctn x 25pcs of clutch connectors for light trucks