The items were impounded following a bound against the illegal felling of the wood.

Trucks secretly transporting logs of Bubinga and charcoal have been seized by agents of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife in the Littoral Region. The seizure, which was in line with the Forest Law that forbids the felling of Bubinga in Cameroon, was made in Yassa-Douala at the early hours of Thursday and continued Friday, August 23, at the riverside neighbourhood of Youpwe.

The valuable Bubinga wood and heavy duty automobiles are currently detained at the Youpwe office of the Douala City Council. Nyemeg Jean, an official of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife in Douala, said the action was in line with the application of the Forestry Law. It was disclosed that the forest resources originated from the South Region, precisely from Lolodorf and Bipindi, where huge deforestation is said to be taking place with the complicity of certain Chinese businessmen who zealously go beyond the boundaries of their agreed concession. Going by Nyemeg, the law provides for confiscation and auction of the wood. If a truck is notorious in illegal transportation of the wood, it may be auctioned to the public and proceeds deposited in the State coffers.

The Ministry has put in place a special measure to fight irregularities in the forestry sector called “Operation Coup de Poing”. The recent action was the second major operation since it started in February this year. Already six logs, four trucks of wood, two trucks of charcoal, six saw engines, four Lucas mills and 2,580 different planks have been impounded. With the persistence of illicit logging forestry officials have promised to reinforce measures to combat ills in the sector.