Rwanda National Police

A cyclist was arrested on Wednesday in Kagitumba, Nyagatare District with 28kgs of cassiterite minerals.

The suspect, Jean de Dieu Habarurema, 26, was intercepted in Munini Village, Kagitumba cell in Matimba Sector.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said information about Habarurema's illegal mineral business was provided by another cyclist.

"Habarurema had boarded a public bus to Kigali. He said that he was taking the minerals to another illegal mineral dealer in Nzove, who would buy them," CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana said.

He thanked the cyclist, who provided information on Habarurema's lawlessness.

“Mining or trade in minerals has to follow the law; the right people being in the right concession at the right time. A dealer has to be licensed to do so and transportation has to be done in the right way—minerals have to be tagged to show the origin partly to fight fraud and tax evasion,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

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 offense

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.