An illegal mineral dealer , 53, was arrested on Wednesday July 15, in Murama Sector, Kayonza District with 68 kilogrammes of cassiterite.

The suspect is reportedly be part of the ring that buys minerals from illegal miners and sells them to other illegal dealers.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, the suspect was at the time of his arrest transporting the minerals, apparently to another dealer in Kabarondo.

“He was arrested at about 11 PM, with two sacks of cassiterite minerals weighing 68kgs. We have established that the minerals were illegally mined in concessions located in Rwinkwavu and Murama sectors by a group that calls itself ‘Imparata’,” CIP Twizeyimana explained.

He added: “These two sectors have many mineral concessions, and there is a chain of illegal dealers; from miners called Imparata, to those who purchase them from Imparata and sells them to other mineral dealers on black market. These are continuous operations to break these chains.”

The spokesperson called for the strengthened spirit of community policing and reporting illegal mineral dealers to fight and prevent this illicit business.

The arrest  follows similar operations conducted in the districts of Ngororero, Karongi and Rusizi since last week, where at least 37 people were arrested in illegal mining and trade activities.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a license 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 Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 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.

^{Source: RNP}