Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Western region Police spokesperson, identified the suspects as Jean d’Amour Uwiringiyimana, 35, Theodore Kagabo, 27, Pierre Nkundunkundiye, 23, Appolinaire Mugisha, 24, and Elière Zirimwabagabo, 32.

"There was credible information about people, who would receive bales of clothes on the shores of Lake Kivu in Nyagahinga Village, Gasura Cell of Bwishyura Sector. The bales were to be delivered by another group from DRC," said SP Karekezi.

He added that the five suspects were arrested red-handed after receiving the 13 bales from the suppliers, who fled back to DRC through Lake Kivu.

He warned against smuggling and fraud, and called upon the public to continue the partnership and information sharing on any illegal or suspicious act in their communities.

The bales were handed over to Revenue Protection Unit (RPU), a Rwanda National Police (RNP) section attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to fight smuggling. The suspects were handed to RIB at Bwishyura station for further investigations.

In article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, smuggled goods and automobile used in smuggling, are auctioned.

Tax fraud

A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years.