_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Narcotics Report 2011 (introduction):
No report available
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Tier 2 Watch List)
Cameroon is a country of origin, transit, and destination for children
subjected to forced labor, and a country of origin for women subjected to
forced labor. Trafficking operations usually target two or three children,
as when rural parents hand over their children to a middleman promising
education or a better life in the city. Cameroonian children from the
country’s 10 regions involuntarily work in domestic servitude, street
vending, mining, and agriculture, including on tea or cocoa plantations.
Cameroonian children are also exploited in prostitution within the
country. Traffickers are increasingly kidnapping their victims, as
heightened public awareness is diminishing the number of children given
to middlemen by their parents. Nigerian and Beninese children
attempting to transit Cameroon en route to Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, or
adjacent countries often fall victim to traffickers, including Nigerian
syndicates, who force them to remain in the country to work. Children
from the Central African Republic (CAR) may be trafficked to Cameroon,
and there have been recent reports of trafficked Cameroonian children
in the CAR and Mali. Cameroonian women are lured to Europe by
fraudulent internet marriage proposals or offers of domestic work, and
subsequently become victims of forced labor or forced prostitution in
Switzerland and France, with smaller numbers of cases in Russia. During
the year, Cameroonian trafficking victims were reported in the United
Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Norway, and Senegal. This migration
reportedly is facilitated by corrupt officials who accept bribes for the
issuance of travel documents. Reports indicate the existence of
hereditary slavery in northern chiefdoms. There were also allegations
that after parents gave their children to Koranic teachers in Maroua and
elsewhere in the Far North, some were kept in leg chains and subjected
to forced labor.
The Government of Cameroon does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and has been placed on Tier 2
Watch List for the fourth consecutive year. Cameroon was not placed on
Tier 3 per Section 107 of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act, however, as the government has a written plan that,
if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself
into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is devoting sufficient resources to implement that plan.
While the government modestly increased its efforts to prevent
trafficking, including the creation of an inter-ministerial committee and a
national action plan, it failed to convict or punish trafficking offenders,
including complicit officials, under its child trafficking law, did not take
steps to enact a 2006 draft law prohibiting the trafficking of adults, and
did not exhibit significant efforts to protect victims of trafficking.
For full report click here
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
No report available
_________________________________________________________
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
US State Dept Narcotics Report 2011 (introduction):
No report available
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Tier 2 Watch List)
Cameroon is a country of origin, transit, and destination for children
subjected to forced labor, and a country of origin for women subjected to
forced labor. Trafficking operations usually target two or three children,
as when rural parents hand over their children to a middleman promising
education or a better life in the city. Cameroonian children from the
country’s 10 regions involuntarily work in domestic servitude, street
vending, mining, and agriculture, including on tea or cocoa plantations.
Cameroonian children are also exploited in prostitution within the
country. Traffickers are increasingly kidnapping their victims, as
heightened public awareness is diminishing the number of children given
to middlemen by their parents. Nigerian and Beninese children
attempting to transit Cameroon en route to Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, or
adjacent countries often fall victim to traffickers, including Nigerian
syndicates, who force them to remain in the country to work. Children
from the Central African Republic (CAR) may be trafficked to Cameroon,
and there have been recent reports of trafficked Cameroonian children
in the CAR and Mali. Cameroonian women are lured to Europe by
fraudulent internet marriage proposals or offers of domestic work, and
subsequently become victims of forced labor or forced prostitution in
Switzerland and France, with smaller numbers of cases in Russia. During
the year, Cameroonian trafficking victims were reported in the United
Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Norway, and Senegal. This migration
reportedly is facilitated by corrupt officials who accept bribes for the
issuance of travel documents. Reports indicate the existence of
hereditary slavery in northern chiefdoms. There were also allegations
that after parents gave their children to Koranic teachers in Maroua and
elsewhere in the Far North, some were kept in leg chains and subjected
to forced labor.
The Government of Cameroon does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and has been placed on Tier 2
Watch List for the fourth consecutive year. Cameroon was not placed on
Tier 3 per Section 107 of the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act, however, as the government has a written plan that,
if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself
into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking and is devoting sufficient resources to implement that plan.
While the government modestly increased its efforts to prevent
trafficking, including the creation of an inter-ministerial committee and a
national action plan, it failed to convict or punish trafficking offenders,
including complicit officials, under its child trafficking law, did not take
steps to enact a 2006 draft law prohibiting the trafficking of adults, and
did not exhibit significant efforts to protect victims of trafficking.
For full report click here
_________________________________________________________
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
No report available
_________________________________________________________
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
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Sanctions:
None applicable
____________________________________________________
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists:
Information unavailable.
____________________________________________________
US State Department Money Laundering Report 2011:
A major regional financial center within the context of Central
Africa, Cameroon is increasingly involved in international financial
transactions. Most financial crimes occurring in Cameroon are
derived from domestic corruption and embezzlement rather than
external malfeasance. However, instability in neighboring
countries has resulted in Cameroon being used as a conduit to
move funds from those countries to Europe. Cameroon is not a
major narcotics destination. Cameroon’s economy is heavily cash
dependent and trade-based money laundering is widespread.
Cameroon has porous borders and customs enforcement is weak.
Cameroon is particularly vulnerable to cross-border bulk currency
transactions and to companies transferring money internationally.
Laundering money through investment in real estate is a growing
problem.
DO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ENGAGE IN CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING THAT INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF US
CURRENCY; CURRENCY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL SALES IN
THE U.S.; OR THAT OTHERWISE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE
U.S.: NO
CRIMINALIZATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING:
“All serious crimes” approach or “list” approach to predicate
crimes: All serious crimes
Legal persons covered: criminally: YES civilly: YES
CRIMINALIZATION OF TERRORIST FINANCING:
Ability to freeze terrorist assets without delay: YES
UN lists of designated terrorists or terrorist entities distributed to
financial institutions: YES
KNOW-YOUR-CUSTOMER RULES:
Covered entities: Financial institutions; money changers; casinos
and gaming institutions; notaries; real estate agents; money
transfer companies; travel agencies; auditors and accountants;
dealers in precious metals and stones, works of art, and
automobiles
Enhanced due diligence procedures for PEPs: Foreign: YES
Domestic: YES
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Covered entities: Financial institutions; money changers; casinos
and gaming institutions; notaries; real estate agents; money
transfer companies; travel agencies; auditors and accountants;
dealers in precious metals and stones, works of art, and
automobiles
Number of STRs received and time frame: 124 in 2010
Number of CTRs received and time frame: More than 2 million in
2010
MONEY LAUNDERING CRIMINAL
PROSECUTIONS/CONVICTIONS:
Prosecutions: Not available
Convictions: Not available
Assets forfeited: criminally: Not available civilly: Not available
RECORDS EXCHANGE MECHANISM:
With U.S.: YES
With other governments/jurisdictions: YES
Cameroon is not a member of a Financial Action Task Force
(FATF)-style regional body (FSRB).
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND
COMMENTS:
In 2010, the National Financial Investigations Agency (ANIF),
Cameroon’s financial intelligence unit (FIU), became a member of
the Egmont Group.
As a member of the Economic and Monetary Community of
Central African States (CEMAC), Cameroon shares a regional
central bank (Bank of the States of Central Africa – BEAC) with
other member countries. Within CEMAC, there is the Banking
Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) and the Action Group
against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC). Although
there is no recognized FSRB in the region, GABAC is working with
banks and member states to ensure implementation of
international FATF recommendations through two formalized
relationships. GABAC works directly with the ANIF in each member
state. GABAC also engages with all banking institutions to urge
them to become members of COBAC and then ensures that the
banks are implementing and enforcing due diligence procedures,
as outlined in the international standards.
The Government of Cameroon (GRC) should work with BEAC,
COBAC, and the ANIF to fully develop and implement applicable
regulations to establish a complete anti-money
laundering/counter-terrorist financing regime that adheres to
international standards. These same agencies should also
provide training and outreach to covered entities regarding their
legal requirements and obligations. ANIF should work to improve
coordination with law enforcement and judicial authorities, with the
objective of enhancing investigations and obtaining convictions,
including tracking law enforcement statistics. The GRC should
work to mitigate its vulnerabilities, including enacting cross-border
currency reporting requirements and training its agents at points
of entry in the identification and interdiction of cash smuggling.
The Ministry of Justice should begin tracking cases more closely
and providing closer cooperation with ANIF to improve STR
information gathering. There is a lack of money laundering
prosecutions and convictions. The Ministry of Justice should
explore training needs for prosecutors and magistrates.
None applicable
____________________________________________________
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists:
Information unavailable.
____________________________________________________
US State Department Money Laundering Report 2011:
A major regional financial center within the context of Central
Africa, Cameroon is increasingly involved in international financial
transactions. Most financial crimes occurring in Cameroon are
derived from domestic corruption and embezzlement rather than
external malfeasance. However, instability in neighboring
countries has resulted in Cameroon being used as a conduit to
move funds from those countries to Europe. Cameroon is not a
major narcotics destination. Cameroon’s economy is heavily cash
dependent and trade-based money laundering is widespread.
Cameroon has porous borders and customs enforcement is weak.
Cameroon is particularly vulnerable to cross-border bulk currency
transactions and to companies transferring money internationally.
Laundering money through investment in real estate is a growing
problem.
DO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ENGAGE IN CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING THAT INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF US
CURRENCY; CURRENCY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL SALES IN
THE U.S.; OR THAT OTHERWISE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE
U.S.: NO
CRIMINALIZATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING:
“All serious crimes” approach or “list” approach to predicate
crimes: All serious crimes
Legal persons covered: criminally: YES civilly: YES
CRIMINALIZATION OF TERRORIST FINANCING:
Ability to freeze terrorist assets without delay: YES
UN lists of designated terrorists or terrorist entities distributed to
financial institutions: YES
KNOW-YOUR-CUSTOMER RULES:
Covered entities: Financial institutions; money changers; casinos
and gaming institutions; notaries; real estate agents; money
transfer companies; travel agencies; auditors and accountants;
dealers in precious metals and stones, works of art, and
automobiles
Enhanced due diligence procedures for PEPs: Foreign: YES
Domestic: YES
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Covered entities: Financial institutions; money changers; casinos
and gaming institutions; notaries; real estate agents; money
transfer companies; travel agencies; auditors and accountants;
dealers in precious metals and stones, works of art, and
automobiles
Number of STRs received and time frame: 124 in 2010
Number of CTRs received and time frame: More than 2 million in
2010
MONEY LAUNDERING CRIMINAL
PROSECUTIONS/CONVICTIONS:
Prosecutions: Not available
Convictions: Not available
Assets forfeited: criminally: Not available civilly: Not available
RECORDS EXCHANGE MECHANISM:
With U.S.: YES
With other governments/jurisdictions: YES
Cameroon is not a member of a Financial Action Task Force
(FATF)-style regional body (FSRB).
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND
COMMENTS:
In 2010, the National Financial Investigations Agency (ANIF),
Cameroon’s financial intelligence unit (FIU), became a member of
the Egmont Group.
As a member of the Economic and Monetary Community of
Central African States (CEMAC), Cameroon shares a regional
central bank (Bank of the States of Central Africa – BEAC) with
other member countries. Within CEMAC, there is the Banking
Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) and the Action Group
against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC). Although
there is no recognized FSRB in the region, GABAC is working with
banks and member states to ensure implementation of
international FATF recommendations through two formalized
relationships. GABAC works directly with the ANIF in each member
state. GABAC also engages with all banking institutions to urge
them to become members of COBAC and then ensures that the
banks are implementing and enforcing due diligence procedures,
as outlined in the international standards.
The Government of Cameroon (GRC) should work with BEAC,
COBAC, and the ANIF to fully develop and implement applicable
regulations to establish a complete anti-money
laundering/counter-terrorist financing regime that adheres to
international standards. These same agencies should also
provide training and outreach to covered entities regarding their
legal requirements and obligations. ANIF should work to improve
coordination with law enforcement and judicial authorities, with the
objective of enhancing investigations and obtaining convictions,
including tracking law enforcement statistics. The GRC should
work to mitigate its vulnerabilities, including enacting cross-border
currency reporting requirements and training its agents at points
of entry in the identification and interdiction of cash smuggling.
The Ministry of Justice should begin tracking cases more closely
and providing closer cooperation with ANIF to improve STR
information gathering. There is a lack of money laundering
prosecutions and convictions. The Ministry of Justice should
explore training needs for prosecutors and magistrates.
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| KnowYourCountry |
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| Last Updated: 16 April 2012 |