Rwanda National Police

Separate Police operations conducted on Sunday, September 20, against illegal mineral trade seized 377kgs of coltan minerals from illegal dealers in Rutsiro District.

The "targeted operations" in Kazizi and Gakeri villages of Kagano cell in Mukura sector, were conducted in partnership with local leaders. 

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the minerals were recovered from four homes of suspected illegal dealers.

The four suspected unlawful dealers are still in hiding.

"In the house of Theogene Rukara, we seized 69kgs of clean coltan and 40 others, which were yet to be cleaned; in the house of one Ndayizera, we recovered 57kgs of clean coltan and 71kgs unclean; 73kgs were found in the house of Appolinaire Baziramwabo; while 61kgs of clean coltan and 6kgs unclean were recovered in the house of Rurihose Vincent," CIP Karekezi explained.

Meanwhile, CIP Karekezi disclosed that one Gervais Hakizimana, an illegal dealer, who was known to buy minerals from workers in concessions, was arrested during the operation.

It is said that Hakizimana was working with casual workers in legit concessions to steal the minerals, which he would afterwards buy from them.

He was handed over to RIB in Rutsiro for further legal procedures.

The minerals impounded from illegal dealers, he said, are mined in closed concessions near Mukura-Gishwati National Park.

The spokesperson warned residents against the unlawful acts.

"It's punishable by law to engage in any mineral related business, when you are not legally authorised, but it's also risky to one's life when you go into these concessions that were closed over safety concerns. Worse still, when you go there at night, which is the norm, it becomes more dangerous" CIP Karekezi said.

Early this month, seven other illegal mineral dealers were arrested in Kamonyi District with 15 tonnes of coltan and cassiterite.

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 licence 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 Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.

The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a licence.