(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s government de-registered the Sky White, a ship flying the national flag, on Aug. 19, citing illicit activities. The move followed the vessel’s interception off the Canary Islands on Aug. 14 with more than three tons of cocaine packed into 80 packages, according to a document from the Ministry of Transport seen by Business in Cameroon.
The operation was conducted through a joint effort by the Spanish, U.S., and Moroccan navies, with five crew members arrested during the seizure. Sky White, a fishing vessel registered in Cameroon since February 2024, had been under international surveillance since that year for suspected links to a trafficking network operating out of Morocco. The ship’s owner remains unknown.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about Cameroon’s flag registry, which has been regularly criticized for its laxity in issuing licenses. This year alone, the country has granted 27 fishing licenses, almost exclusively to foreign owners. According to data from international maritime organizations like the Environmental Justice Foundation, Cameroon has issued more than 200 licenses for various types of vessels.
The country was already hit with a “red card” by the European Union in 2023 for its weak efforts in combating illegal fishing. In 2024, several Western countries also suspected Cameroon of contributing its flag to Russia’s “ghost fleet” to facilitate the sale of crude oil while Moscow was under international sanctions.
Ludovic Amara
