KIGALI - Police in Kigali have arrested four people with counterfeit local and international currency amounting to Rwf 2.1 million and US$ 200 dollars, respectively.

The quartet includes Seleman Nyagisaza, 56, Joseph Misago, 43, Suleiman Byaruhanga, 37, and  Florentine Murekatete, 29.

The suspects, who are currently held at Remera Police Station, were picked up separately in different parts of the city two days ago.

Misago, a father of five, was found with counterfeit local currency at the time of his arrest, and he divulged the whereabouts of the rest of the suspects.

Misago, a resident of Remera, told journalists that he had bought fake notes amounting to Rwf 1m from Byaruhanga.

Misago said he first met with Byaruhanga, a Ugandan from Kisoro District, southwestern Uganda, in Kampala after they were connected by Murekatete.

"I bought Rwf 1 million (counterfeit) which I was planning to sell at about US$600 dollars,” Misango said, adding that it was his first time to get involved in the crime.

Murekatete, a hairdresser in Kigali, said that she had been introduced to Byaruhanga by Nyagisaza.

The fake local currency was in denominations of Rwf 5,000, Rwf 2,000 and Rwf1,000 notes. The dollars were in US$100 notes.

Police Spokesperson, Supt. Theos Badege, said the alleged criminals were intercepted before they could circulate the bogus money publicly.

"We got information from members of the public who were about to be the victims,” Badege said. He warned that measures are in place to track down those dealing in the crime.  

Counterfeiting of money is punishable by a jail term of between five to 20 years and a fine ranging between Rwf 50,000 to Rwf 200,000, upon conviction.

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