In just a month: New Customs clearance system for electronic devices generates over 200 million FCFA.

According to information made public by Customs, the 200 million FCFA threshold was crossed during the week ending May 9, 2026.

The figures were disclosed during the weekly management committee meeting of the Directorate General of Customs held on May 11, in Yaounde and by videoconference. 

It emerged from the meeting that operational services had been instructed to maintain surveillance against fraud and smuggling linked to imported digital devices while continuing sensitisation campaigns targeting major importers, occasional importers and retailers.

The electronic clearance mechanism became operational on April 1, 2026. The system requires importers and customs brokers to declare phones, tablets and connected digital devices through the Cameroon Customs Information System, known as CAMCIS, using International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI, identification numbers before devices are activated on local telecom networks. 

The mechanism was introduced jointly by the Directorate General of Customs and the Telecommunications Regulatory Board.

The Directorate General of Customs previously stated that revenues collected from imported phones had fallen from about FCFA 2 billion monthly in the 2000s to approximately FCFA 100 million in 2025 due to smuggling, under-declaration and informal import channels. According to Customs authorities, the digital system was introduced to strengthen the collection of existing customs duties and improve traceability of imported devices.  

Authorities expect the mechanism to increase annual customs revenues from digital device imports to about 25 billion FCFA, compared with roughly 1.3 billion FCFA previously collected. 

Customs officials said importers and traders had been asked to regularise inventories with customs services, while consumers were being encouraged to verify the customs status of mobile phones before purchase through the official CAMCIS verification platform.

Data published by the DGD showed that 51,819 phones had been declared between April 1 and April 25 under the new system. Earlier figures indicated that about 29,000 devices had been registered during the first 17 days of implementation. 

During the management meeting, customs services were also instructed to intensify monitoring of the country’s 50 highest revenue-generating imported products, strengthen anti-smuggling operations and improve cargo processing during the May holiday period, including the Ascension public holiday on May 14.

It also emerged from the meeting that the Directorate General of Customs is scheduled to begin discussions with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, on May 12, on revenue mobilisation performance at the end of 2025 and revenue projections for 2026.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3788 of Wednesday May 13, 2026