Rwanda National Police

Police in the City of Kigali arrested three people on Thursday said to be part of the ring that counterfeits currencies. 

The trio was caught in the act in Muhima Sector of Nyarugenge District, Chief Inspector of Police  (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the central region, said.

"Police, while on their routine operations, entered one of the bars in Nyabugogo, Muhima Sector, they got suspicious of one of the rooms that were locked from inside," CIP Kayigi said.

He added: "This forced the officers to find their way inside the dark room where they found the three men making fake currency notes in the denominations of Rwf2, 000 and Rwf5, 000. They were immediately taken into custody."

They were also found with materials they were using to make fake monies.

One of the suspects identified as Ben Fidel Nteziryayo was released from prison three months ago after completing his one year sentence over the same crime.

Kayigi appealed to the business community to always be vigilant and check thoroughly the currency notea given to them by customers to prevent falling victims and incurring losses.

Telecom banking agents and small businesses are the majority targeted, according to the Police. 

Article 269 of the new Penal Code stipulates that "any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence. 

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years. 

If the offence is committed at the international level, the applicable penalty is an imprisonment term of more than seven years and not more than ten years and a fine of not less than seven million Rwandan