Per Customs officials, the haul consisted of 131 boxes of whisky, 16 boxes of red wine and 10 pallets of beer.
The Ambam Customs Brigade in the South Region has intercepted a large shipment of alcoholic beverages allegedly smuggled from Equatorial Guinea as part of Cameroon’s reinforced crackdown on cross-border trafficking. The operation took place at the Yama checkpoint in Ambam in the South Region’s Ntem Valley Division, a zone that is believed to be a hotspot for illicit trade. According to customs officials, the haul consisted of 131 boxes of whisky, 16 boxes of red wine, and 10 pallets of beer.
The officials said the contraband goods were discovered aboard a passenger vehicle attempting to cross the border. They said none of the products bore the official tax stamps required for distribution in Cameroon. Authorities stressed that such products not only pose a health risk to consumers, given their unregulated production and storage, but also undermine state revenues, as taxes are evaded. “Each seizure is a reminder that smuggling harms both the economy and the wellbeing of citizens,” a customs officer noted after the operation.
The recent raid is part of customs’ broader surveillance strategy, which extends across border areas and into the national territory, according to Custom officials. Officials say the goal is to deter traffickers while encouraging legal trade practices. The Ambam corridor, given its proximity to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, is known as a high-risk zone for contraband circulation. Customs authorities have reiterated their call for collaboration with citizens and economic actors, urging vigilance and timely reporting of suspected trafficking activities.
They stress that effective cooperation between law enforcement, traders, and the public is essential to combating illegal flows of goods. The seizure underscores the Cameroonian government’s determination to curb smuggling networks and protect both the economy and public health. For many, it is also a signal that the stakes are rising in the fight against cross-border trafficking, where smugglers continually adapt their methods to evade control.
