Illicit financial flows: Customs, CRADEC join forces to tighten controls.

According to information published by Customs, the meeting formed part of consultations ahead of preparations for the 2027 Finance Law. It focused on tax governance, transparency and measures to curb financial leakages, particularly in high-risk sectors.

Customs revealed that CRADEC presented three proposed reforms: greater interconnection between public databases, increased transparency over the ownership of companies and tighter controls on cross-border financial flows.

Customs said under the first proposal, CRADEC is pushing for the establishment of a single national database. This would involve connecting the Customs taxpayers' database with those of the Directorate General of Taxation, DGI, the National Social Insurance Fund, CNPS, and the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations, GUCE.

The proposed system, the department noted, is intended to improve the sharing of information between the different administrations involved in taxation, social security and foreign trade. 

Customs added that CRADEC also proposed greater transparency on the beneficial ownership of companies. Under the proposal, Customs would contribute to the National Register of Beneficial Owners in collaboration with the DGI and the National Agency for Financial Investigation, ANIF.

The mechanism, Customs explained, would help identify the actual owners of companies, including those operating behind corporate structures and shell companies. The third proposal, it was mentioned, focuses on strengthening controls on cross-border flows. Customs said CRADEC wants particular attention placed on sectors considered highly exposed to financial leakages, notably the extractive and forestry sectors.

According to information published by the Directorate General of Customs, the August 19, meeting followed a high-level roundtable organised by CRADEC on June 25, with parliamentarians of the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation, APNIFFT.

The roundtable resulted in the adoption of a consolidated budget orientation note, focused on tax justice, transparency, gender-responsive taxation and measures to tackle illicit financial flows. Customs revealed that it is expected to assess the technical feasibility of the proposals during the current and subsequent working sessions. The discussions are also expected to lay the groundwork for cooperation between the administration and CRADEC on revenue mobilisation.

CRADEC is a non-governmental organisation founded and registered in Cameroon on April 22, 1996. Headquartered in Yaounde, the organisation works on tax justice, economic governance, the fight against tax fraud and evasion, illicit financial flows and transparency in the management of public and extractive resources. The organisation is also a member of the Cameroon coalition of Publish What You Pay and a founding member of the Tax Justice Network Africa.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3885 of Friday August 21, 2026