Cameroonian security forces have arrested a 23-year-old man accused of attempting to smuggle a large consignment of ammunition through a border community close to Nigeria. According to officials, the suspect was intercepted during a stop-and-search operation in the Far North Region. Security personnel found several containers loaded with 7.62mm live rounds concealed beneath other goods.
The exact number of rounds has not been disclosed, but authorities described it as a “significant cache” capable of supplying multiple fighters.Investigators believe the ammunition was destined for non-state armed groups active around the Lake Chad Basin and the Northwest/Southwest regions. The 7.62mm caliber is widely used in AK-pattern rifles, which have been recovered in previous attacks along the border corridor. The suspect reportedly told interrogators he was hired as a transporter and did not know the final recipients.The man is being held at a military facility while a joint task force continues the probe. Security agencies said they are tracing the supply chain, including the point of origin of the ammunition and possible accomplices on both sides of the border.
Vehicles and documents found with the suspect have also been seized as evidence.Cameroonian authorities say the arrest is part of an intensified crackdown on arms trafficking in frontier areas. They called for increased community cooperation and cross-border intelligence sharing with Nigeria to disrupt the movement of weapons. Officials warned that anyone found aiding the transport or sale of ammunition will face prosecution under national security laws.
