Cameroon: The economy plumed by tobacco clandestine businesses

Counterfeit, illicit habits, false brands and low cost:cigarette traffic explodes, boosted by the cruel appetite of the tobacco industry. A parallel market which contributes to the fortune of mafia groups.

Yaounde urban council, the sky is obscure and the air is fresh, Robert in his twenties stops by a shopon the public path. In this shop, he does his credit transfer and buys a packet of cigarette. The park given to him carries no fiscal stamp, but for Robert, only his toxic dosage matters. Like Robert, many other tobacco users buy counterfeited products regularly.

Indeed, for the past two weeks, retail stands have been overwhelmed by counterfeited cigarettes and low cost brands, not respecting the regulating laws in Cameroon. This rise in counterfeit and illicit behavior activities around tobacco products is not without consequences on the economy.

According to a research conducted by the ‘Groupement Inter-Patronal du Cameroun’ (GICAM), almost 29% of cigarette sales emanates from counterfeit sources. The same study reveals that tax loses and customs loses related to illicit trade of tobacco amounts to almost 4 Billion Fcfa for the year 2006.

The tobacco industry: illegal advertisement to recruit new smokers.

Between flashy packs, cigarette girls, advertisement posters and communication gadgets, the tobacco industry is running an offensive to recruit new consumers.

Decisively, the tobacco industry is not missing out an opportunity to render Cameroon smoky and deathly. Indeed, new advertisement campaigns are launched and new cigarette brands are making their way into the market. The latest brand is "ESSE" available on expositions two weeks ago. Produced by Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation (KT&G), this brand is subject of a large promotion campaign in Yaounde city. The campaign to make known the brand is more visible within the university neighborhoods. This is the case of SOA town where we observed the random advertisement, posters with gadgets (umbrellas…).

Tobacco use: the Cameroon Coalition to Counter Tobacco(C3T) raise awareness amongst youths of Yaounde III

Within the framework of the sensitization and prevention activities around tobacco use, the Cameroon Coalition to Counter Tobacco, went to meet the youths of Yaounde III.

Meeting with International Association of Students

 in Economics and Management (AIESEC)

Thus, the 25th August 2015, the association striving towards the building of a Cameroon free from diseases and deaths related to tobacco, with the support of the Ministry of Public health, a peer education workshop with associations of Yaounde III. Objective, educating them to be backup as peer educators whom on their part will sensitize others on tobacco use dangers.

Led by the young and dynamic team of C3T peer educators, the discussions were based on the following topics: tobacco and its constituents, its fabrication, tobacco and health, tobacco and sporting activities, how to stop smoking, and the right to turn down the first cigarette.

Cameroon: Captured by tobacco advertisements

The imaginations put in place by tobacco industries to attract new addicts in Cameroon, seems to be unbearable. From free tasting, and offer as gifts of tobacco products, accompanied by the use of media to initiate consumption.

The violation of the 2006 law on advertisements in Cameroon

Presently, the tobacco industry has launched a campaign to increase its profits, while making Cameroonians to be more addicted to tobacco. Furthermore, every week we notice a new cigarette brand in the market. This action is led by the aggressive marketing strategies from all angles of the Cameroonian territory. Although the Country has a legislation that prohibits the advertisement of all tobacco products.

For example, Yaounde the political capital of Cameroon has “cigarettes girls” whom are paid to parade night clubs, snack bars and public places, while stimulating youths to taste new exciting brands. The innovation recently, is that of free tasting of cigs. Across road sides we can find posters on sales points with T-shirts, caps close to schools, shops……

The case of Douala the economic capital of Cameroon is not save from the ravage of tobacco products advertisement. Here, nothing is left out concerning advertisements. From t-shirts, umbrellas, posters, sale points, vehicles, all is put in place to reach the maximum of persons possible, and particularly youths who are majority of holiday makers.