Cameroon : 300 Tons of Rice Worth CFAF 120 Million Seized in Yagoua
The Zone III units of HALCOMI VI Operation made a strategic entrance. On September 16, 17, and 18, 2026, in Yagoua (in the Far North region of Cameroon), they seized 6,500 kilogram bags of rice. The total weight of the seized goods was 300 tons. The estimated taxable value is 120 million FCFA.
In this border area, this seizure represents both a moral and material blow to smuggling networks. « By attempting to clandestinely export this massive stockpile to Chad, the smugglers were looking to resell this commodity at a higher price in neighboring markets », revealed the Directorate General of Customs (DGD).
In Cameroon, the intercepted rice is indeed among the so-called « tax-exempt » products. These are goods that have benefited from tax exemptions or reductions granted by the Cameroonian government to stabilize prices and ease the purchasing power of local populations.
This trafficking not only deprives Cameroonian consumers of subsidized essential goods but also represents a considerable loss of tax revenue for the state treasury. The vigilance of Zone III of the HALCOMI VI mission reaffirms the customs officers’ commitment to securing the borders against economic crime.
