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Police in Muhanga District, on September 5, arrested two men in connection with illegal mining activities.
They were arrested in Muhanga Sector where they were at the time found mining, Chief Inspector ofm Police (CIP) Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.
"The two men; Oreste Twagirayezu, 36, and Innocent Nshunguyinka, 38, mining in a farm for one Nyirinkindi Desire," CIP Karekezi said, adding: "This area where they were mining is not a mining concession; it's someone's land used for farming activities."
Information that led to the arrest of the duo was provided by Nyirinkindi, who was reporting "strange people who were digging in his land."
"They were about 15 people, who were mining cassitelite, although others managed to escape when they saw Police. We also seized some minerals which they had already mined as well as traditional tools they were using," he further explained.
It is said that this group has been conducting illegal mining activities in this same area since September 1.
"We first got information in these same people on September 1, so officers were always on alert. This time when they came back, the owner of the land notified the Police. In most cases they would go there at night," CIP Karekezi said.
He warned against such "unlawful and reckless acts which can result into loss of lives."
Illegal mining is punishable under article 438 of the Rwandan Penal Code, which attracts a jail term of one year in prison and a fine between Rwf3 million and Rwf10 million.
