Canadian authorities have announced the arrest of a 68-year-old Ottawa resident following a multi-year investigation into alleged immigration fraud connected to claims that he entered and remained in Canada under a false identity for decades. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the case stems from an extensive investigation that began in late 2021 after investigators received information suggesting that the individual had been living in Canada since 1996 while allegedly concealing his true identity. According to Canadian authorities, the investigation also revealed that the suspect was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Rwandan authorities in connection with allegations concerning his suspected role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The RCMP identified the accused as Roland Nduwayo, 68, of Ottawa. Police said he was taken into custody after returning to Canada from an overseas trip earlier this week. Authorities have charged him with 16 offences under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. At this stage, the charges relate to alleged immigration and identity-related offences under Canadian law. The allegations connected to the Rwandan arrest warrant remain allegations, and any proceedings related to those claims would follow the applicable legal processes. As with all criminal matters, the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Investigators stated that the case required years of detailed investigative work involving document reviews, identity verification, intelligence gathering, and cooperation between multiple Canadian government agencies and international partners. The RCMP noted that investigations involving suspected international crimes are often highly complex because they require careful coordination across different legal systems, extensive evidence collection, and compliance with both domestic and international legal frameworks.
RCMP Superintendent Jeremie Landry said investigations involving international criminal allegations frequently involve significant legal and operational challenges, requiring close collaboration among law enforcement agencies and justice officials in multiple jurisdictions. He stated that the investigation reflects the RCMP’s ongoing efforts to address immigration fraud and identity-related offences through coordinated investigative work carried out in accordance with Canadian law.
The investigation was conducted with the support of several federal agencies, including the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Department of Justice’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Section. Canadian officials said cooperation among these organizations played an important role in examining immigration records, identity documentation, and other evidence gathered throughout the investigation.
The international arrest warrant referenced by the RCMP was issued by Rwandan authorities and relates to allegations connected to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. During approximately 100 days between April and July 1994, extremist militias and others carried out one of the most devastating mass atrocities of the twentieth century, resulting in the deaths of more than one million Tutsi and moderate Hutu who opposed the killings. Since then, numerous countries have worked with Rwanda through legal cooperation, extradition proceedings, and investigations aimed at locating individuals suspected of involvement in genocide-related crimes.
Canadian authorities emphasized that the current proceedings focus on alleged violations of Canada’s immigration laws. Any additional legal action concerning the allegations raised by the international arrest warrant would be subject to separate judicial processes and applicable legal standards. The case is expected to proceed through the Canadian court system, where prosecutors will present evidence supporting the immigration-related charges while the accused retains the full legal rights and protections guaranteed under Canadian law.
