Police in Nyarugenge District have arrested two men found in possession of counterfeit US dollars worth $10,000 while attempting to exchange the money into Rwandan francs.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in Nyarugenge Sector, in Kigali’s city center, near the Post Office area.
The spokesperson for Kigali City Police, CIP Wellars Gahonzire, confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspects had gone to Shahansh Forex Bureau to exchange the fake currency.
According to CIP Gahonzire, employees at the forex bureau became suspicious and alerted the police after noticing the money was counterfeit.
“Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested the suspects. When questioned about the source of the money, they failed to provide any explanation. Investigations are ongoing to determine its origin and identify other possible accomplices,” he said.
The two suspects have since been handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for further legal proceedings on charges related to the circulation of counterfeit currency.
CIP Gahonzire praised the forex bureau staff for reporting the incident promptly, saying their action helped prevent the fake money from entering circulation. He also urged the public to remain vigilant when handling cash.
“Traders and people who handle large sums of money are encouraged to be extra cautious or use money-detection machines to avoid being defrauded,” he added.
Police also warned individuals involved in producing or circulating fake currency to stop immediately, stressing that such crimes threaten the country’s economy and will not be tolerated.
Under Rwanda’s Law No. 68/2018 of August 30, 2018, anyone found guilty of forging, altering, or distributing counterfeit money faces a prison sentence of between five and seven years. If the crime involves international circulation, the punishment can increase to up to ten years in prison, along with a fine ranging from seven to ten million Rwandan francs.
KIGALI TIMES