The Rwanda National Police on Sunday shot dead two Ugandan nationals suspected to be smuggling goods to Rwanda through ungazetted points.

The shooting happened at around 3am in Tabangwe sector, Nyagatare District in the Eastern Province, and according to communiqué from police, the two deceased were part of a larger group of smugglers that was intercepted by a police patrol in the wee hours of Sunday.

"The smugglers became violent and assaulted police who reacted in self-defence shooting dead two while the rest escaped,” read the communique.

Police said the deceased were identified as Job Ebindishanga and Bosco Tuheirwe.

"An an investigation into the incident has started. Rwanda condemns violent behaviour by smugglers and urges the public especially those residing along the common border to focus on legal commercial activities using official border points,” read the statement.

Nyagatare is one of the areas pointed out by the police as a route for drug traffickers, and it looks to be one of the points targeted by smugglers for their activities.

In March this year, police arrested three other Ugandans in Kanyinya Village, Kijojo Cell, Musheri Sector in Nyagatare District as they smuggled sacks full of onions through porous borders heading to Matimba market.

The law enforcement body mapped out 80 routes between Nyagatare and Burera Districts used by smugglers and drug traffickers.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com