URA’s fight against illicit trade has yielded results after officers impounded 780 litres of fuel and two motorcycles from smugglers in Gulu City.
The seizure followed an ambush by the Gulu Logistics Hub enforcement team last week. The operation targeted two young men suspected of transporting smuggled fuel on motorcycles to an illegal distribution store.
The team lay in wait for over five hours near Pallaro Trading Centre in Awach Sub-county. As the suspects neared the centre, customs officers moved in. The smugglers tried to escape by veering off the road into nearby bushes, hoping the rough terrain would slow the officers.
The chase ended at a local homestead, where the suspects tried to hide behind grass-thatched manyattas. The team remained resolute and apprehended both men.
Officers seized two motorcycles with registration numbers UMA 797CY and UMA 246CS. They also recovered 39 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), totalling 780 litres of fuel.
URA said it remains committed to protecting revenue and enforcing customs laws.
The suspects are undergoing offence management procedures. Investigations are ongoing to trace the wider network behind the smuggling ring.
