At least 600 kilogrammes of untagged minerals were over the weekend seized in Rulindo District as they were being smuggled in two vehicles.

Police spokesperson for the Northern region, Inspector of Police Innocent Gasasira, said the vehicles, registration numbers RAA 338J, Land Cruiser type, and Prado RAC 697G, were intercepted at a police roadblock in Kajevuba Cell, Ntarabana Sector, carrying 292kg of Wolfram and over 300kg of cassiterite, respectively.

"Police officers were conducting routine checks at the roadblock when they discovered that the two vehicles had minerals, and drivers didn’t have legal documents allowing them to transport the minerals. The vehicles were immediately impounded,” IP Gasasira said.

Police said, besides having no transport papers, the mode of transporting the minerals contravened the guidelines as they are supposed to be transported in a container not in private vehicles.

It is said that the minerals that were being smuggled to Kigali were from Giti Sector of Gicumbi District.

IP Gasasira explained that the minerals were later handed over to Revenue Protection Unit (RPU), a Rwanda National Police (RNP) arm charged with fighting fraud and smuggling, to follow up with investigations.

"Minerals are supposed to be tagged before they are transported from one place to another, either within or outside the country, and by licensed people or companies. These are fraudulent dealings that lead to tax evasion. We appeal to the public to help fight such malpractices by providing information on the people involved,” he said.

In January this year, Police in Rulindo arrested two men who had stolen 419 kilogrammes of minerals from Rutongo mining concession.

Rwanda National Police, through its Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), has been instrumental in fighting smuggling and enforcing the law, preservation of environment through environmental education, practical interpretation of the environmental laws to citizens and engaging in the public environment management awareness campaign, officials say.

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