Gendarmerie crackdown on counterfeiters in Douala, seize FCFA 100 million

In Douala, Cameroon, a massive counterfeit banknote operation was busted, with nearly 100 million CFA francs in fake notes seized. 

The counterfeit bills, mostly from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), were found at a suspect's residence in the Bonamoussadi neighborhood recently.

The seizure was a result of numerous complaints from local residents about the increasing circulation of counterfeit currency.

Gendarmerie officers conducted a search of the suspect's home, discovering counterfeit 10,000, 5,000, and 2,000 CFA franc banknotes wrapped in black plastic bags and concealed on the roof. 

The suspect was taken into administrative custody, and the commander of the Douala II gendarmerie urged the public to be vigilant, especially when engaging in large cash exchanges. 

This incident follows a similar discovery in Maroua, where 32 million CFA francs in counterfeit banknotes were seized in January.

The BEAC's 2020 series, which has been in circulation since December 15, 2022, was the primary source of the counterfeit bills. 

The circulation of counterfeit banknotes remains a significant challenge for the region's economy, prompting authorities to intensify efforts to dismantle these criminal networks

BY A CORRESPONDENT IN DOUALA 

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CEMAC currency