Rwanda National Police

At least 15kgs of untagged minerals were recently intercepted in Musanze District as they were being smuggled to Kigali. 

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that Jean Marie Vianney Niyonsenga, 20, was intercepted in Muhoza Sector transporting 15kgs of smuggled cassiterite in a public transport vehicle.

“The suspect said that he was smuggling the minerals to Kigali from Rwaza Sector,” said CIP Rugigana

“The suspect was intercepted by traffic police officers. They were conducting their routine checks at the roadblock in Kigombe Cell when they discovered a consignment of minerals; the owner—Niyonsenga—didn’t have legal documents permitting him to transport it, so he was immediately arrested,” he explained.

CIP Rugigana explained that besides having no transport papers, the mode of transporting the minerals contravened the guidelines, which specifies that minerals should only be transported in a metallic container.

“These are fraudulent dealings which are aimed at tax evasion. Minerals are supposed to be tagged before they are transported by licensed dealers or companies,” he said

CIP Rugigana warned people who are involved in illegal mining and minerals smuggling. 

“The law is clear; for you to deal in mineral trade you have to be licensed or given authorization documents. The vehicle transporting the minerals should also bear supporting documents and minerals must be tagged to trace their originality,” the spokesperson said.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a license, commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf  one million and not more than Rwf five million or only one of these penalties.