A man identified as Eric Maniraguha was arrested in Gatsibo District after he was found with about six tonnes of umushikiri, which he was allegedly trafficking to Uganda.
The suspect, however, said he was hired by two men whom he identified one of them as Karasharamye, who are still on the run.
Umushikiri is a sort of tree used as major raw material in the production of perfumes and lotions.
Rwanda National Police reported that Maniraguha, 30, a resident of Muhanga, who is currently held at Kicukiro Police Station, was arrested on September 23 in Gakara in Gatsibo.
The plant which is mostly found in the Eastern Province is said to be trafficked to Uganda where it is then imported to Asians countries, especially Malaysia.
Being guilt of crimes suspects will be charged under article 412 of the organic law on the demolition and environmental degradation whose sentence ranges from six months to three years and a fine of Rwf200, 000 to Rwf3 million.
Recently, two vehicles registration number RAB 290F and RAB 123G, both FUSO type, were also intercepted in the Eastern Province transporting the tree stamps to Uganda.
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