Cameroon has announced a sweeping crackdown on its gold mining sector to curb under-reporting of production and illegal exports that authorities say have deprived the country of billions of dollars in revenue.

Speaking on Wednesday, Acting Mining Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry said discrepancies between the amount of gold produced and the volumes declared by some mining companies had significantly reduced government tax receipts.

Authorities estimate that illegal gold exports to the United Arab Emirates have cost the state around 2,000 billion CFA francs (approximately $3.5 billion) over the past five years.

"The main problem does not necessarily lie in the disappearance of gold belonging to the state, but in the under-reporting of part of the production by certain private operators," Fuh told journalists.

The government said it will strengthen oversight across the mining sector by increasing inspections at mining sites, introducing minimum gold delivery requirements, improving monitoring throughout the gold recovery process and enhancing production traceability.

Officials also plan to tighten enforcement of mining regulations. According to the mining ministry, more than 200 companies are operating without the required authorization, while 137 cases have already been referred to the courts.

The government will also target the misuse of exploration permits, which authorities say are being used to conduct mining operations instead of exploration activities.

"An exploration permit is intended for conducting exploration works aimed at identifying and assessing a deposit," Fuh said.

Cameroon has sought to expand its mining industry as part of efforts to diversify its economy. 

The country adopted a new mining code in 2023 and is seeking to increase the development of its mineral resources, including iron ore, diamonds, gold and cobalt.