CAMEROON CUSTOMS : Nearly 3,500 counterfeit Indomitable Lions kits seized

(LVDE) – This seizure, part of the fight against the illicit trade in sports equipment, was carried out in just four months by officers of the Ekok Customs Mobile Brigade in the South-West Region.

Since the beginning of 2025, Cameroon Customs has launched a strong offensive against illicit networks dealing in counterfeit sports gear, particularly those of the Indomitable Lions. On August 23, the Ekok Mobile Brigade intercepted a vehicle from Nigeria carrying 769 fake Fourteen-branded items, including 87 jerseys and shorts, 434 full tracksuits, and 248 T-shirts.

This operation is part of a broader campaign launched on April 2, 2025, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Directorate General of Customs (DGD) and the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). The agreement aims to effectively combat the counterfeiting and smuggling of official Indomitable Lions gear, the emblem of Cameroonian football.

The first major operation took place on April 25, 2025, in Idenau, Fako Division, where officers seized 220 fake jerseys. Soon after, on May 12, two packages containing another 220 counterfeit jerseys were intercepted in an intercity bus bound for Ngaoundéré, in the Adamawa Region.

The pace of seizures intensified, peaking on July 11 with the discovery of 49 fake jerseys at the Ouro Magadi checkpoint in Guider, North Region. Then, on July 18 in Douala, Customs officers seized four bales containing 2,240 counterfeit jerseys and shorts—the largest haul since the protocol came into effect. In total, over a four-month period, an impressive 3,498 fake Fourteen-branded items were removed from circulation.

These efforts aim not only to protect the commercial rights of Fecafoot, the exclusive holder of the Fourteen brand in Cameroon, but also to ensure that consumers are not misled by poor-quality products. The Indomitable Lions, a symbol of national pride, represent a highly lucrative market that traffickers seek to exploit illegally.

Cameroon Customs has firmly reiterated its commitment to pursue this fight against counterfeiting, by tightening surveillance on smuggling routes, especially along border corridors with Nigeria. The growing scale of these operations reflects the determination to protect both the image of the national team and consumers.

The crackdown on illicit trade in sports equipment is only beginning. Customs authorities plan to further intensify their efforts, mindful of the economic and symbolic stakes football represents for Cameroon. By maintaining pressure on counterfeit networks, Cameroon Customs hopes not only to safeguard Fecafoot’s integrity but also to ensure a fair market for all sports enthusiasts.

Esther Grace