Tonnes of smuggled drugs, fuel seized by Cameroon customs

Cameroon customs have seized tonnes of smuggled drugs and fuel in the economic capital, Douala, on April 14 in its latest move to curb the inflow of ‘overseas dangerous and illicit’ drugs and goods into the country, customs officials said in a statement on April 15.

 According to the customs, the drugs including 100,051 tramadol pills, 100,072 combiart tablets and 7,000 liters of fuel were seized in an operation that involved Cameroon Marine and Cameroon customs brigade in charge of combating illicit trade.

The illicit goods were smuggled from a neighbouring country through Cameroon's seaport in Tiko locality and then transported to Douala in a "heavy duty truck", the officials, said adding that the suspects have been remanded in custody.

According to Cameroon police, tramadol is one of the most abused substances in the country and is making its way into schoolyards.

"There is growing addition to the pills which are readily available on the black market. The opioid is also known to be used by terrorists in the country to boost courage and commit atrocities. It is also widely used by students. So we are doing all we can to put an end to this malaise," a police officer, Emmanuel Watat, told Xinhua.

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