On July 30, 2024, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji oversaw the public destruction of 1.6148 tons of cannabis at the Nsam landfill in Yaoundé. This operation is part of a broader initiative aimed at intensifying the fight against drug trafficking in Cameroon. The destroyed cannabis, consisting of 62 bags, was seized on July 2 during a coordinated police intelligence operation. The site was chosen to ensure the safety and transparency of the destruction process.
During the event, Atanga Nji praised the collaboration among security forces, as well as administrative and judicial authorities, which led to the seizure of this significant haul valued at nearly 400 million FCFA. He reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to combating drug trafficking, recalling the firm directives issued by the Head of State during the governors’ conference to vigorously tackle drug and narcotic trafficking. The minister emphasized that drug trafficking poses a severe threat to society.
“Drug traffickers are often the same individuals who engage in robbery and highway banditry, maintaining criminal networks in our cities. Therefore, it is crucial to destroy this seized stock of cannabis to send a strong message,” he stated on national radio. He acknowledged previous challenges where seized stocks occasionally returned to traffickers but indicated that the government now prefers destruction to ensure the drugs are rendered unusable and to bolster public confidence in anti-drug efforts.
In addition to the destruction of the cannabis, five suspected traffickers were arrested during the operation. According to the minister, these individuals are part of a cannabis trafficking network that operates from the Bui department in the crisis-hit Northwest region, through Noun (West), and into the Far North. AtangaNji assured that those arrested would face imprisonment and that the crackdown on drug trafficking would continue with “the greatest energy.”
Statistics from the National Committee for the Fight Against Drugs (CNLD) reveal that 21% of Cameroonians have tried a hard drug, with 10% being regular users, 60% of whom are young people aged 20 to 25. Cannabis is the most consumed drug in Cameroon, with a prevalence rate of 58.54%, followed by Tramadol (44.62%), commonly referred to as Tramol in the country. These figures underscore the extent of the drug problem, highlighting the necessity of ongoing and intensified efforts to combat these issues.
