Rwanda National Police

Police in Ngororero District, on Saturday,  December 31, seized about 1390kgs of lithium mineral from illegal miners and unlicensed dealers.

The minerals were recovered from various homes in Gapfura Village, Rusororo Cell in Muhororo Sector where seven people were arrested.

"These were coordinated operations conducted by the police and local leaders, facilitated by information provided by residents. The group was sneaking into a lithium mining concession owned by Ngororero Mining company, where they were stealing them before selling them through other unlawful channels," Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said.

He added: "Police and local leaders searched homes of the suspected illegal mineral dealers, where the 1390kgs of lithium were recovered and the seven suspects taken into custody."

Lithium is mainly used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles as well as some non-rechargeable batteries like clocks.

CIP Rukundo lauded the impact of the public through community policing in fighting and preventing crimes, including illegal mining and trade.

He called upon Ngororero residents to continue sharing information on those still involved in illegal Mining and related trade activities.

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