The Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motaze has instructed the general managers of the two mobile phone operators to deactivate contraband devices on their respective networks, failing which they will incur fiscal responsibility.
The Cameroonian government, through the Ministry of Finance, is holding Orange and MTN operators accountable for the customs clearance of devices via the digital platform put in place. This platform is still being circumvented by importers and users of phones, tablets, and other terminals. The Minister of Finance is pressuring phone operators to deactivate all newly active irregular devices on the local network since April 1st, 2026, the date of the implementation of the new procedure for paying customs duties and other related taxes.
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In his letter of June 04, Louis Paul Motaze reminds these two operators that the conclusions from the meeting of May 22, 2026, are not effective. Devices connected fraudulently remain active on the network, despite the request for their systematic blocking. The Minister also indicates that this action can only succeed if the various actors involved, namely Customs and telephone operators, work in synergy. This is because it concerns the blocking of IMEIs not listed in the system, and not the blocking of subscriber numbers.
Committed to making device imports profitable, the government intends to sanction smugglers at all costs and compel them to use the established reform system. To this end, given the inaction of the operators, their responsibility may be engaged. “Any connection to the local network of an uncleared terminal incurs the fiscal responsibility of the permissive telephone company,” warns the Minfi.
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To ensure transparency and traceability of device customs clearance operations, the government has taken measures to strengthen import control mechanisms and combat customs fraud. The current challenge is the implementation of these measures, which aim to put an end to contraband networks in the sector.
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