Cameroon – South West : Governor Okalia Bilai Orders Closure of Clandestine Beaches in Fako Division.
- Direct Info
- 8 juillet 2026
Following a high-level field inspection in Limbe, the South-West Governor directed a total shutdown of illegal coastal landing sites used for smuggling fuel, drugs, weapons, and undocumented migrants.
In a decisive move to secure Cameroon’s maritime borders and protect the national economy, the Governor of the South-West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, has ordered an immediate shutdown of all clandestine coastal beaches across Fako Division.
The directive, issued on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, explicitly instructs the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Fako and all local Divisional Officers to dismantle illegal ports that have long served as hubs for the smuggling of contraband, including illicit fuel (zozo), dangerous drugs, and firearms.
The order follows a rigorous field assessment by Governor Okalia Bilai, who toured key coastal sites—including the Wovia and Bota beaches—alongside a high-profile delegation of administrative officials, defense and security chiefs, and customs representatives.
Addressing the press after a crucial security meeting at the Limbe City Council conference hall, the Governor warned that these unregulated landing sites have evolved from local trading points into severe national security liabilities.
« The government has been tolerant for a while, allowing locals to use some beaches for importation. But these sites are now being exploited clandestinely as landing points for harmful substances and even foreigners from Nigeria, » Governor Okalia Bilai declared.
The Governor emphasized that the influx of unvetted goods—ranging from illicit pharmaceuticals and alcoholic beverages to ammunition—not only sabotages local commerce but directly threatens public health and state security.
Beyond closing illegal beaches, the administrative order heavily reinforces the government’s ban on illicit night operations at official ports. Security forces have been instructed to intensify night patrols and strictly monitor offloading activities at authorized maritime gateways, most notably: Tiko Wharf, Bota Beach and Idenau Beach.
Governor Okalia Bilai concluded by stressing that the success of this security offensive relies heavily on a coordinated approach between customs, maritime authorities, security forces, and local communities. He urged the public to act as whistleblowers to help eradicate fraudulent networks.
The robust administrative response has been widely welcomed by Fako residents, many of whom have expressed growing concern over the surge of cheap contraband and the rising rate of drug abuse among the youth in coastal communities. Implementation of the border-tightening measures is expected to begin with immediate effect.
Peter Kum
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