Contraband:

‘Funge’ Sale Thriving in Buea Despite Arrests

Sale of Illegal fuel is experiencing a boom in the SW region

The sale of illegal fuel is experiencing a boom in the SW region despite the sporadic raids and arrests by forces of law and order.

On the streets of Buea, youths between the ages of 15 to 25 are spotted selling illegal fuel. The activity has become the mainstay of these youths who depend on it for their livelihood.

            The boom has not left out military officers, who are also making huge financial gains whenever they pounce on a vendor.

Despite the random arrests, many youngsters are still getting more involved in the business.

            According to vendors of this fuel, most cab drivers and car owners prefer this fuel because the price is affordable and it’s more economical compared to fuel sold at filling stations.

            We gathered that the business is thriving because police officers collect money on daily basis from those dealing in such fuel.

            Pascal, one of the youngsters, who is gainfully employed by this sector, told this newspaper that when the police come for bribe and you complain that you have not sold, they threaten you with arrest.

            “They approached us daily threatening to arrest us. Once they collect their money they leave, but if I don’t have money they will put me into their van, patrol with me for an hour or two and then drop me in a far location. They will tell me to go back to my point of sale, instructing me that they will come back after few hours to collect their money,” Pascal narrated.

            Another vendor disclosed that he settles four different set of soldiers on a daily basis.

            “At times I give money to the soldiers four times daily because they come in shift. The first set will come in the morning, another set at midday then another in the afternoon and the last at night. I give each set the sum of FCFA 5000…” Nickson added.

            On his part, Jackson revealed that they make more profit daily as many fuel stations have shutdown as a result of the Anglophone Crisis.

            “Honestly we do make profit. You know many filling stations in Buea have shutdown due to the current Crisis and some open only twice a week. We sell daily except on ghost town days. We equally sell cheaper than filling stations thus car owners prefer to buy from us…..” Jackson said.

            The constant harassment of the vendors by the military is because of the huge profits they make daily from the sale of illegal fuel, it is understood.

            It should be noted that this illegal fuel commonly call ‘funge’ is mostly imported from Nigeria.