Douala V D.O. seals clandestine hotel facilities

Several hotels and motels in the Douala V sub-division have been sealed by the Divisional Officer, Dr. Asongwe Cletus who was accompanied by some security officials.

This was during an operation to put an end to the activities of hotels and motels operating illegally in the municipality.

According to Dr. Asongwe Cletus, the operation stems from rising insecurity in the Douala V sub-division:

“Most of these hotels and inns operate in total illegality. They receive people of doubtful morality and lodge them for days without even identifying them. We realized that some criminals especially persons from foreign countries lodge in these hotel facilities and commit crimes. The promoters of these hotels and inns have been identified and will have to answer before the state counsel for proper justice to be served.”

It is alleged that killers of a gendarme recently were hiding in hotels which were operating illegally in the Douala V sub-division.

“The Gendarme who was killed was after a criminal. It was proven that those criminals lodged in hotel establishments in Douala V. When we went down to the field investigating, we discovered that they were actually lodged in the hotels but unidentified by the operators. This only means that these hotels act in complicity with these criminals. So, we can’t allow the operators go unpunished” the D.O. added.

The first phase of the operation to seal clandestine hotel facilities ended with six of them sealed. Dr. Asongwe Cletus called on the population to collaborate and help this operation succeed for the security of everyone in the municipality.

He however advised anyone hoping to operate a hotel or inn to do so in legality and inform the authorities of the type of persons lodging in their facilities and also assist the security forces to track down criminals in order to bring back serenity in the sub-division.