By SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The South West Regional Chief of Customs, Awono Mbede Thomas, is in the hands of the judicial police in Buea since Friday October 4, 2019.
Reports say Awono Mbede pocketed a whopping some of FCFA 18 million following a litigation file of rice deal that had been sent to him by Fourou Kerbai Ferdinand, chief of bureau for customs in Tiko.
The SUN gathered that Awono Mbede quickly buried the file, but unfortunately for him, Fourou Kerbai alerted the Director-General of Customs who immediately informed Bernard Okalia Bilai, governor of the South region.
The public prosecutor signed a warrant and the head of the Limbe Customs sector was captured by the ESIR Police in his office in the presence of his collaborators. Reports say a fight broke out between Customs officers and police officers during the arrest, as Customs officers tried to prevent the police from arresting their chief, but to no avail. At press time, The SUN learnt that in the days ahead, the South West Regional Chief of customs will be released.