Stakeholders' Roles in Preventing the Flow of Contraband Goods along Borders: Empirical Evidence from the Ekok-Bamenda Corridor of Cameroon

Abstract: Borders have become a central issue in the contemporary global arena. However, earlier studies on border issues show current gaps as far as stakeholders’ roles in preventing the flow of contraband goods along the Ekok-Bamenda corridor of Cameroon is concerned. Through the exploratory (qualitative) and case study research approaches, primary data sources from non-participant observations, Key Informant Interviews (N=25), administration of 400 copies of questionnaires to ten purposively selected border communities, information gathered from secondary sources and qualitative and thematic analysis of collected data, this study sets out to investigate stakeholders’ roles in preventing the flow of contraband goods along the Ekok-Bamenda corridor of Cameroon. The results revealed that multiple stakeholders are involved in contrabands goods flow prevention in the area. They are categorised into three constituting of local, national and international stakeholders including government agencies like customs officers and law enforcement agents including police, armed forces, gendarmes, private sector such as business persons, importers, exporters and transporters, and the local inhabitants residing border communities and the civil society involving local community leaders and NGOs/CIGs. They witness variations in their rate of involvement in preventing contraband goods flow with the main and most important stakeholders being customs officers and security forces. Also, the various stakeholders’ perform different roles and responsibilities in preventing the flow of contraband goods along the corridor directly and/or indirectly, including sealing of shops trading in contraband goods, seizure of contraband goods and tracking and controlling smuggling activities or illegal transactions along the corridor. The study concludes that the porosity of the Ekok-Bamenda border corridor of Cameroon has favoured the increasing flow of contraband goods flooding markets in the area from neighbouring Nigeria. It provides baseline information to policy makers and the concerned administrative structures crucial in developing anti-contraband strategies in order to safeguard the economy, health and security situation of the inhabitants and the economy.