Rwanda National Police

Police in Rulindo District are holding a man in connection with illegal possession of 28Kgs of  wolfram. The minerals were illegally mined in a concession in Gicumbi District.

According to Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, the suspect identified as Innocent Nsengiyumva, was intercepted on Friday along Musanze-Kigali highway.

IP Gasasira said the suspect is being detained at Ntarabana police station as investigations continue.

He said the arrest was from a tip off from a concerned citizen who "suspected that the mineral carrier had no proper documentation."

“It turned out that indeed he had no documents that permit him to move the minerals” he said. 

“Mining and transportation of minerals has its procedures and laws that have to be followed; mining and selling minerals is done by licensed companies and people only,” said the spokesperson. 

Dealing in minerals illegally is punishable with a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf10 million or one of these penalties, under article 438 of the penal code.