The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has recovered 140 mobile phones linked to theft cases and returned them to their owners, with an estimated total value of Rwf 40,760,000.
The handover took place on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the RIB station in Nyamata, Bugesera District.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing second-hand phones, warning that stolen devices are often resold on the market.
He said buyers risk losing both their money and the devices if they fail to verify ownership before completing a purchase.
“Before buying a used phone, you should first ensure that the seller is the rightful owner. Otherwise, the loss will be yours,” he said.
Murangira also warned those involved in phone theft to abandon the practice, stressing that law enforcement will continue tracking and arresting suspects regardless of how long they evade justice.
During the same operation, RIB also presented 10 suspects, including individuals accused of phone theft and others linked to murder cases.
The murder-related cases were associated with different motives, including domestic conflicts over property, infidelity, and mob justice.
RIB reiterated its call for residents to protect their property, resolve disputes through legal channels rather than taking the law into their own hands, and avoid buying goods from unverified sources.
