They were intercepted in Giheta village, Munini sector as they crossed into Rwanda from Burundi transporting sacks of clothes on bicycles.

Two of the suspects; Bosco Ntawigira, 38, and Emmanuel Kamanayo, 29, are the rightful owners of the clothes.

Five others are cyclists whom they had hired to transport the clothes.

At least five sacks of caguwa weighing 245kgs belong to Ntawigira while other 55kgs belong to Kamanayo.

According to the Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the smugglers used a porous border to and from Burundi.

“Residents in Giheta reported people, who had crossed to Burundi through an illegal border to smuggle goods.

Police conducted an operation on Wednesday morning at about 8am and arrested all the seven smugglers including two owners of the clothes," SP Kanamugire said.

SP Kanamugire lauded the impact of community policing through which information on the smuggling ring was shared and suspects arrested red-handed.

He further warned cyclists and taxi moto operators against facilitating smugglers.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Munini station for further legal process while the seized clothes were taken to RRA Huye branch.

Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods are auctioned.

Tax fraud

A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.

With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax, like through the use of false accounts, falsified documents or any other act punishable by law.

In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six months and two years.

Article 87 of law N° 026/2019 of 18/09/2019 on tax procedures states that a person who, while intending tax evasion, commits one of the following acts: use of forged documents in his or her accounts; counterfeit and use of documents or materials of the tax administration used for taxation; hiding taxable goods or assets related to business; making a declaration indicating that the taxpayer has not made sales; changing the trade name by a person prosecuted in relation to tax; fraudulent registration of trade under the name of another person; hiding accounting documents from the tax administration or damaging them; use of forged accounting records; commits an offence of tax evasion.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than five (5) years.

Some of arrested smugglers.