Rwanda National Police

Four women have been arrested in separate Police operations conducted in Rubavu and Nyabihu districts, in connection with smuggling and fraud.

They were arrested in operations conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, after they were found in possession of combined 10 bales of second-hand clothes smuggled into Rwanda from the DR Congo.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that two of the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, January 7, in Gikombe cell of Rubavu sector in Rubavu district, with three bales.

"Two others were apprehended in the morning of Wednesday, January 8, in Kaminuza cell, Kabatwa sector in Rubavu district with seven bales. The bales were recovered in the house of one of the suspects," said SP Karekezi.

He further explained that the two suspects arrested in Rubavu had just crossed into Rwanda from Goma in DRC, with the smuggled bales of caguwa.

"They crossed to DRC illegally, and came back through the same illegal route, with three bales of caguwa. Efforts against illegal cross-border and smuggling have been strengthened, and the residents are playing a big part through credible information sharing," he said.

SP Karekezi also warned those, who facilitate smugglers to transport their smuggled goods, or to hide them in their houses, that they will also be arrested to face the law.

Article 87 of the law on tax procedures provides an imprisonment of between 2 and 5 years, for tax evasion.

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