Police in Bugesera District on October 1 arrested two men for allegedly trafficking local plant commonly known as Umushikiri used in the production of perfume in Uganda.
Suspects Eric Biziyaremye and one only identified as Edison were arrested in Ngeruka Sector, Ngeruka cell in Binyonjwe village by Police night patrol with two tonnes of umushikiri.
Currently the suspects are detained at Nyamata Police station.
A fuso truck (RAA 693D)which the suspects were using to transport the species to Nyagatare was impounded.
According to police the tree stumps are transported to porous borders in Nyagatare District and sold people from Uganda, before they are exported to Asian countries, especially Malaysia.
Police says another truck carrying about six tonnes of umushikiri was also impounded in Gatsibo District also en route to Nyagatere,
Mid last month, two trucks were also impounded in the Eastern Province transporting about 10 tonnes of the tree stump to Nyagatare.
The cutting and trafficking of the species is punishable under article 412 of the organic law on the demolition and environmental degradation whose sentence ranges from six months to three years and a fine of Frw200, 000 to Frw3 million.
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