Rwanda National Police

Police in Kamonyi District have recovered about 126kgs of coltan, which are part of the minerals that were reported stolen in the night of November 10, in Nyamata Sector, Bugesera District.

The minerals were recovered on Saturday, November 12, from the house of one Leonard Mukerabirori, 46, a suspected illegal mineral dealer, in Mbati Cell, Mugina Sector in Kamonyi District.

Mukerabirori is among four people, who were arrested in connection with the act, earlier on Saturday in Nyagacaca Village, Ruyenzi Cell of Runda Sector also in Kamonyi District.

Three others include one Sylvestre Nkurikiyumukiza, 52, also an illegal mineral trader working with Mukerabirori and the duo of Mpore Boniface, 24, Nzabahimana Calxtte, 26, both employees of COPABAMANYA mining cooperative operating in Kinazi, Nyamata Sector, where the minerals were stolen.

Innocent Murindahabi, the head of COPABAMANYA, said that 282kgs of coltan worth Frw12 million, were stolen after suspected thieves vandalized the door at their store.

"We learnt about the burglary at our stores at about 3a.m on November 10, and we immediately called the Police in Nyamata," said Murindahabi.

According to Murindahabi, illegal mining and theft of minerals is largely influenced by unlicensed dealers, who run the black market.

"We are faced with a challenge of illegal mineral traders, who approach and connive with our employees to steal our minerals. Our casual workers steal from us because there is someone behind pushing them and ready to buy what they have stolen or extracted illegally, especially at night," Murindahabi observed.

Kamonyi District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent of Police (SP) Jean Bosco Nsabimana, said that the four suspected thieves were tracked and arrested following swift collaboration between the District Police Units of Bugesera and Kamonyi, the affected mining cooperative and the public.

"Through this collaboration, it emerged that thieves had transported the minerals on motorcycles, to unknown destination in Kamonyi District.

Police first tracked and arrested all the four suspects, on Saturday November 12, at about 2p.m, in Nyagacaca Village, Ruyenzi Cell in Runda Sector before they led officers to the home of Mukerabirori where the minerals were also recovered," said SP Nsabimana said.

At the time of their arrest, conflicts had ensured between the group as the two suspected thieves accused the two buyers of paying them less than the agreed amount.

The two buyers of the stolen minerals, allegedly paid their suppliers (Mpore and Nzabahimana) Frw2,350, 000, instead of Frw3,300,000, which caused friction.

Although Mukerabirori and Nkurikiyumukiza argued that they bought only 126kgs of coltan from Mpore and Nzabahimana, the latter rubbished their claims noting that they gave them 192kgs.

SP Nsabimana said that investigations are still underway to recover the minerals, which are still missing and to arrest anyone connected to this alleged theft.

Article 54 of the law N? 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 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 Frw1 million and not more than Frw5 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 license.