Police arrested over 20 suspects in the Obili neighbourhood of Yaounde, including a 55-year-old drug dealer caught with a significant stash of drugs in his heavily secured residence during a major anti-crime operation on May 21, 2025.
The coordinated raid, led by the Special Rapid Intervention Teams (ESIR), comes in response to the tragic death of six-year-old Mathis on May 10.
The incident sparked public outrage and prompted intensified security measures in the capital city.
Obili, considered a crime hotspot, was the first target in the crackdown.
Among those arrested were several individuals suspected of being involved in recent knife attacks around the Mini Ferme area, near Total Melen.
Authorities believe they are part of armed gangs responsible for rising street violence in the city.
The drug dealer, a known ex-convict who previously served 12 years in prison for burglary, defended his actions by claiming drug sales were his only means of survival.
“I have not disturbed anyone,” he said. “Instead, every morning students come to me to collect 100 francs because they know I sell drugs. The drug consumption has killed no one because I have been using it for more than 30 years, and I am already 55.”
Despite his justification, police say the suspect has a long criminal record and was operating from a well-secured hideout that initially appeared unsuspecting.
Officers had to access the house through the ceiling to make the arrest.
According to O.P. Jean Baptist Biyidi, law enforcement has also apprehended the main leader of the drug trafficking ring, who is currently in custody.
While many Cameroonians have welcomed the operation as a step toward restoring safety, others suspect it may be a government effort to deflect public attention from the unresolved case of Mathis’ death.
Authorities have pledged continued surveillance in high-risk areas as part of an ongoing effort to combat criminality and restore public trust in security forces.
