KIGALI — Rwanda has handed over five vehicles to South Africa after they were seized at border posts following alerts from the INTERPOL Stolen Motor Vehicle Database. The handover was coordinated by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau and the South African Police Service.
The vehicles, including a Jeep Grand, Range Rover, Toyota Rush, Toyota Hilux, and Toyota RAV4, were intercepted at Gatuna, Rusumo, and Bugarama borders between 2019 and 2025. Each had been registered in neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo before being linked to theft or fraud in South Africa.
RIB officials said the vehicles were destined for Rwanda when routine database checks revealed their stolen status. They were then stored at RIB Headquarters until coordination with the country of origin could be completed.
A senior RIB officer noted that there is currently no set time limit in INTERPOL procedures for holding impounded property. “Vehicles can remain in Rwanda for years, which strains storage space, maintenance, and resources while we await collection,” the official explained.
Since 2018, Rwanda has impounded 58 vehicles connected to stolen or fraudulent activities. Authorities said this reflects a broader regional challenge, with criminal networks using neighbouring countries to move stolen vehicles.
RIB urged INTERPOL and member countries to consider a defined framework for handling impounded vehicles. If unclaimed within a set period, cars could be auctioned, repurposed, or legally disposed of, easing the burden on host nations.
Lt. Col. Brian Butana Mashingó of SAPS praised Rwanda’s handling of the handover, calling it “a model of African cooperation in protecting property rights and upholding the rule of law.”
RIB also cautioned the public against buying second-hand vehicles without verifying their origins through INTERPOL National Central Bureaus to avoid involvement in illegal supply chains.
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