The District Police Commander (DPC) for Gicumbi, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ndahimana Gisanga said that the suspect was arrested due to a tip off by local residents.

“Residents in Rwankonjo reported that Nkoriki, who has been frequenting Uganda through illegal border points, had sneaking quantities of minerals into Rwanda. We conducted an operation and arrested him at about 9pm in possession of 80kgs of Wolfram,” said SP Gisanga

Nkoriki said that the minerals were brought to him by people, whom he did not disclose and that he intended to traffic them to City of Kigali to supply his client.

SP Gisanga warned against illegal cross-border and smuggling. He commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Nkoriki along with the minerals was taken to RIB at Cyumba station for further investigation.

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 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.