Combating fraudulent cocoa bean exports in Cameroon
The Director General of Customs (DGD), Mr. Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, signed a memo on Wednesday 11 September 2024 reminding the public about the procedures for exporting cocoa beans by land and waterways in Cameroon.
Despite the surveillance system put in place by the local authorities, statistics from the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) show that Cameroon fraudulently exported 70,000 tonnes of cocoa beans to Nigeria, representing 26.2% of national production estimated at 266,725 tonnes for the 2023/2024 cocoa season.
This official statement from the Director General of Customs is prompted by a drop in the tonnage of Cameroonian cocoa exports to neighbouring countries and the consequent loss of foreign earnings to cocoa traders.
It is a reminder from the Director General of Customs that before leaving the storage warehouse, cocoa shipments destined for export and transported to land and river exit points must be accompanied by the following documents:
- Receipts of payment of the autonomous export duty corresponding to the volume of cocoa beans transported and the related agricultural levies or royalties;
- The pre-assessment form;
- The assessment slip;
- The phytosanitary certificate;
- The stuffing or loading certificate, and
- The consignment note established either by the consignee or the transporter for exports by land, or the export manifest for exports by waterways.