Cameroon’s Drug Trafficking Epidemic: A Growing Concern

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - Cameroon has long been a transit country for heroin, but increasingly, domestic elites are consuming the drug, according to sources. This alarming trend is part of a broader issue of organized crime in the country.

The Cocaine Market

While the cocaine market is less prevalent in Cameroon, there are signs that local elites are starting to take an interest in the drug as well.

Organized Crime

Cameroon’s struggle with organized crime is a complex web of corruption, mafia-style groups, and terrorist organizations like Boko Haram. These criminal actors have emerged as major players in the illegal drug trade, arms trafficking, kidnapping, and racketeering.

Criticisms of Government Response

The government’s response to these threats has been criticized as inadequate due to high levels of corruption within state institutions. The country’s porous borders and lack of effective law enforcement have allowed criminal networks to operate with impunity.

Corruption and Weak Governance

• Trust in the current regime has plummeted due to its inability to respond effectively to security threats.
• Inter-communal tensions are on the rise, along with politically motivated arrests and repression.
• The national capacity to address organized crime remains limited, with legislation failing to meet international standards.
• The government’s lack of transparency and accountability has further eroded trust in the system.

Criminal Justice System

• Cameroon’s judiciary is poorly equipped, with a huge backlog of cases awaiting prosecution.
• There are no judicial units specifically dedicated to combating organized crime, and corruption within the system is widespread.
• Prison conditions are dire, falling far below international standards.

Economic Environment

• The Cameroonian economy is heavily regulated, making it difficult for businesses to operate freely.
• Low productivity rates and poor economic governance have led to a large informal economy, with many workers operating outside the formal sector.
• Laws and institutions governing anti-money laundering efforts are in place, but significant gaps remain.

Civil Society

• Civil society plays a crucial role in combating organized crime, particularly in areas such as human trafficking and smuggling.
• The government’s treatment of victims is weak and varies significantly from case to case.
• Journalists face increasing threats and attacks, with arbitrary detention and repression of the media environment becoming more common.

Conclusion

Cameroon faces a complex web of organized crime, corruption, and weak governance. Addressing these issues will require significant reforms, increased transparency, and accountability from government officials. Until then, the country’s citizens will continue to suffer at the hands of criminal networks and corrupt institutions.