Jean Damascene Habiyaremye was intercepted on Wednesday, January 5, in Gakenke village, Rusagara cell, Gakenke sector with the outlawed non-biodegrable products, which he had concealed in a sack of potatoes.

He was reported by residents as he was boarding a public bus to City of Kigali where he intended to supply the plastic bags, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Regional Police Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) for the Northern Province.

“Residents of Rusagara have been seeing Habiyaremye for the past two days with the same sack trying to board public buses to Kigali, which raised their suspicions and called the Police. When Police officers searched his sack, they recovered over 2000 pieces of polythene bags covered with potatoes leading to his arrest," said CIP Ndayisenga.

After his arrest, Habiyaremye disclosed that he was buying the plastic bags from dealers in Kamubuga also in Gakenke District.

He added that his alleged suppliers traffic the outlawed bags from Uganda.

CIP Ndayisenga warned against selling outlawed products especially plastic bags which pose negative effects to the environment.

The suspect was handed over to RIB at Gakenke station for further legal process.

Manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items are prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.

In article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.

In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.

In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.