Rwanda National Police

Police in Ngororero District has impounded a Toyota Land Cruiser with 1 ton and 46kgs of untagged coltan, which were at the time being smuggled.

The vehicle registration number RAB 038E was intercepted in the night of July 5 in Kavumu Sector.

The driver identified as Sylvestre Harerimana, who was the only person on board at the time, was also arrested, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.

The interception came less than a month after police in the same district, impounded a truck that was found illegally transporting two tons of amethyst stones - a bright shining purple stone that is often used in pricey jewelry.

CIP Kanamugire said that the Police are on alert on any illegal act including mineral smuggling, owing to the fact that Ngororero is among the districts with a number of mining concessions.

“The law is clear; for you to deal in mineral trade you have to be licensed or given authorization documents. The vehicle transporting the minerals should also bear supporting documents and minerals must be tagged to trace their originality,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also made reference to several legal instruments guiding mineral trade in Rwanda citing the Ministerial Regulations No001/Minifom/2011 Relating to Fighting Smuggling in Mineral Trading.

Article 4 the regulations indicate that, “Transportation of minerals outside mining licensed areas (Concessions and Permits perimeters) is only allowed, when the consignment shows the source mine, its value and when it has the right tag.”

“The intercepted vehicle lacked all these documents,” CIP Kanamugire said.

Similarly, the law n°37/2008 of 11/08/2008 on mining and quarry exploitation, in its article 103, states that, “any person, who indulges in prospecting or research without authorisation shall be liable to an imprisonment of one to five years and a fine ranging from Rwf100,000 to Rwf5 million or one of the two penalties.”

It also adds in part that, the fine for indulging in exploitation, purchasing and selling without authorization shall be from Rwf3 million to Rwf20 million.

“Investigations are still going on to ensure that everyone involved faces the law. At the moment the driver of the land cruiser is under custody as investigations continue,” the spokesperson said.

“Mining is one of the major revenue generators for Rwanda; it’s the kind of business that has to be done in a clean manner and by authorized personnel following all guidelines.”

Kanamugire said mining is regulated to ensure standards and to protect the environment, but also to fight fraudulent dealings and tax evasion in particular.