Cameroon a hub for drug trafficking in central Africa?

Several peddlers arrested on transit abroad within a couple of months. There are growing fears that the worst is near to happen in Cameroon as the country is increasingly becoming a hub for drug trafficking in the central African sub-region. There is no gain saying that drug peddlers have taken the country’s rather weak control system of her airports to make it their gate way abroad with “merchandise”. And the people are very much troubled that if concrete measures are not taken things might go out of hands thus tarnishing the country’s image abroad. Recently a drug peddler identified as Ernestine Monga was arrested at the Douala International airport by Cameroon customs with 52 kg of marijuana.

The illicit substance was wrapped in dried banana leaves and concealed in travel cases belonging to the lady, who was about to board a parish-bound commercial flight. It should be noted here that in the past months, the customs services have apprehended illicit substances on several intending passengers. The seizures include 39kg of cannabis found on a Cameroonian national aged about 20 who was traveling to Paris a week ago, last June, a drug trafficker was arrested with 19 kg of cannabis concealed in his luggage, while he was about to board a plane to Paris. In July, an estimated FCFA 230 million worth of cocaine from Brazil and destined to Douala – the nation’s economic capital was also seized while on transit in Paris. Seizures have also been made in Yaounde, the nation’s capital where customs officials intercepted 27 kg of cocaine at the Nsimalen International Airport. The drug was hidden in the luggage of a traveler bound for Zurich - Switzerland just two weeks after 34 kg of cannabis were equally seized at the same airport “Apart from the various cases of seizures of drugs in transit or destined to Cameroon, we are dealing with the same network as regards cannabis”, Liliane Lucie Mfou’ ou Ella, Commander at the custom active sub division at the Douala international airport, told the press. She revealed that though some traffickers had tried to conceal their identities by registering their luggage under another person’s name they have still been arrested.

However some Cameroonians are quick to argue that the increasingly usage of Cameroon’s airport could not be attributed only to the rather puny, poor, or near unavailability of efficient modern control apparatus to check travelers. “Since Cameroonians are very corrupt I think peddlers in the country and those elsewhere are equally using this and other unorthodox means to pass through to their various destination”, said James Aron, who questioned why the phenomenon is only rampant now that there is growing rate of corruption in the country. Whatever the case something must be done and must be done urgently.

By Harry Ndienla Yemti