Customs-cleared phone in Cameroon: IMEI, blocking and checks

Since 2026, one word comes up everywhere in Cameroon when people talk about phones: "dédouané", or customs-cleared. You may be wondering what it changes for your phone, or for the one you want to buy. This guide on customs-cleared phones in Cameroon answers simply: what the rule means, what was announced, how to check and what to do if there is a problem. It is written by Abdel Gafar Njupouen, CEO of Gafloow Store. The information comes from the Cameroonian press and public customs information; the dates are not the same in every source, and we point this out when it happens.

What is a customs-cleared phone?

A customs-cleared phone is a phone whose IMEI is registered in the Cameroonian customs database. The IMEI is the 15-digit identity number of each device. Its registration shows that the phone was declared to customs when it entered the country.

The word can be confusing. A phone is not customs-cleared because it is brand new, or because it is sold in a nice shop. It is customs-cleared because its IMEI is in the database. It is a check, not an impression.

Why this rule exists

According to the media that reported the decision, the authorities have two aims: to secure the collection of duties and taxes on imported phones, and to fight irregular imports. Customs is also targeting annual revenue of 25 billion FCFA through this mechanism.

In practice, the system relies on the IMEI. A device whose number is not registered on the customs platform can no longer connect to the operators' networks for long. The operators named are MTN, Orange and Camtel.

What was announced: the timeline

Here are the main stages, as reported by the press.

The sources do not all tell the same story. Some media mention a first blocking as early as 25 May 2026, others place it on 1 September. Some also give a different deadline for the exemption. We cannot decide for you: for a specific phone's exact situation, the reference is the customs platform and the toll-free number 8044.

Who is affected?

Phones, tablets and other imported digital devices are affected when their IMEI is not registered in the customs database.

According to the announcement reported at the end of August 2026, a phone connected at least once to a Cameroonian network before 16 March 2026 is automatically considered customs-cleared. If you have used your phone for a long time, you are probably in this situation. But probably is not enough: check.

You are more exposed in these situations:

• you bought a phone after March 2026;
• you received a phone from a relative living abroad;
• you bought a phone from a seller who could not give you a receipt;
• you bought a model at a price far below the market.

Some media mention other special cases, such as travellers passing through. Check with customs before drawing any conclusion.

Understanding the IMEI in two minutes

The IMEI is your phone's number plate. Every device has one, and it does not change when you change your SIM card. That is why customs and operators use it: they recognise a phone, not just a SIM card.

Three things to remember:

• It has 15 digits. You get it by dialling *#06# on the phone.
• It is different from the serial number. The serial number is for the manufacturer. Customs checks the IMEI.
• A phone with two SIM slots, or with eSIM, has two. Both must be in order.

We explain every step in our guide on how to check a phone's IMEI in Cameroon.

Why it matters to you

A phone whose IMEI is not registered may stop working normally on Cameroonian networks. You can no longer rely on it to call, send messages or use mobile data. That is a real problem, especially if you use it for work, for your Mobile Money payments or to reach your family.

There is also a resale consequence. An informed buyer checks the IMEI before paying. A phone that is not recognised sells badly, or not at all. Checking now protects the value of your device.

Real-life cases

Each situation calls for a different reflex. Here are the most common ones.

I bought my phone brand new in a shop

Ask for a receipt showing the model and, if possible, the IMEI. Compare the IMEI on the box with the one on the phone, then check it on the customs platform. A serious seller lets you run these checks in front of them, or on delivery if you order online.

I bought a second-hand phone

Check the IMEI before you pay. A phone connected to a Cameroonian network before 16 March 2026 is considered customs-cleared, but this exemption does not cover a phone that has never been connected here. If the seller presents a phone as old while its IMEI is not recognised, ask questions before paying. Our guide on how to buy a phone safely explains the other checks.

Someone sent me a phone from abroad

Do not count on it "going through". Call the customs toll-free number (8044) to find out how to declare the phone, before or as soon as you receive it. Keep the purchase receipt, the box and the shipping documents. They serve as proof.

I have several phones in my family or my business

Check each device separately, one IMEI at a time. Note the result in a table: the model, the IMEI, the date of the check and the result. If you buy phones to resell them, ask customs about your obligations.

I want to sell my phone

Prepare the receipt, the box and the IMEI. Offer the buyer the chance to check the IMEI themselves in front of you. It reassures them and helps you sell faster and at the right price.

How do I know whether my phone is customs-cleared?

It takes three steps. We explain them in detail in our guide on how to check a phone's IMEI in Cameroon.

1. Dial *#06# on the phone to display the IMEI.
2. Enter this number on mpie.camcis.cm, the checking site cited by the press.
3. Read the result: recognised, all is well; not recognised, ask customs for advice.

The check is free. Type the address into your browser yourself and pay nothing to get this information.

What if my phone is not customs-cleared?

Do not panic and do not rush. Here is the order to follow:

1. Confirm the result by checking the IMEI again, both numbers if the phone has two SIMs.
2. Gather your proof: receipt, box, the seller's messages, purchase date.
3. Call 8044, the toll-free number of the Directorate General of Customs, to find out how to regularise the phone.
4. Regularise through official channels: customs or approved platforms. The media we consulted give no reliable amount, so ask for the exact cost before paying anything.
5. Check the IMEI again after regularisation.

We explain these steps in our guide on what to do when a phone is locked.

Buying a phone safely

The best time to check a phone is before you pay. The three basic steps:

• Compare the IMEI on the phone, the box and the receipt. They must be identical.
• Check it on the customs platform.
• Insist on a receipt and written warranty terms.

Our guide on how to buy a phone safely lists the twelve checks to do before you pay.

At Gafloow Store, you can check your phone's IMEI on delivery, in front of the courier: see our 24-hour delivery page. If a problem appears, our warranty and returns terms apply.

What not to do

• Pay a middleman who promises to "unblock" a phone. Only customs and approved platforms can regularise a phone.
• Try to change the IMEI. Tampering with this number is risky and generally illegal.
• Give out a code received by SMS or your Mobile Money PIN. No legitimate procedure asks for them.
• Believe that a brand-new phone is automatically in order. Only the IMEI check tells you.
• Wait. Check now, not on the day the network cuts off.

Your reflexes in short

Here is the short version to keep at hand.

Telling real information from fake

A subject that affects so many people attracts rumours and scams. Here is how to keep a cool head.

• Cross-check. Reliable information is reported by several serious media, with a date and the name of the institution announcing it.
• Go back to the source. For a specific case, the reference is the Directorate General of Customs: the toll-free number 8044 and the checking platform.
• Be wary of urgent messages. An SMS or WhatsApp message threatening immediate blocking and asking you to click a link or pay straight away is suspicious.
• Never give out a PIN. Neither your Mobile Money PIN nor a code received by SMS. No official procedure asks for them.
• Type the address yourself. Do not open a link received by message to check your IMEI.

Words to know

Choosing a phone with confidence

Looking for a brand-new phone? Browse our full catalogue, or choose by brand: iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. Every product page shows the price in FCFA and availability. Not sure? Our advisers answer you on WhatsApp.

Keep this table as a screenshot: it will save you from searching for the information in a hurry. Share it with your family too, as many people still do not know their phone needs to be checked.

What remains to be confirmed

The subject is recent and the published information is incomplete. Here is what we could not confirm in the sources we consulted:

• The exact amounts for regularisation. The figures quoted vary between media, so we give none.
• The processing times for a regularisation.
• Special cases, such as travellers passing through or phones received as gifts from abroad.
• The exact date of the first blocking: some media mention 25 May 2026, others 1 September 2026.

We will update this page as soon as customs publishes official information. In the meantime, the toll-free number 8044 and the checking platform remain your best source.

Our sources

The information above comes from the Cameroonian press and news sites (in French). Their dates are not all the same; we kept what several sources confirm.

• Téléphones non dédouanés : le blocage arrive le 1er septembre, allAfrica, 24 August 2026 (republished from Camer.be);
• Blocage de 700 000 téléphones non dédouanés, LeFisk;
• Comment vérifier le statut douanier de son téléphone à partir de l'IMEI, Le Bled Parle.

This page will be updated with every official change. Last checked: 23 September 2026.