By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Sierra Leone has recalled its ambassador to Guinea, Alimamy Bangura, following the discovery of seven suitcases containing cocaine in an embassy vehicle.
Guinean authorities detained the vehicle and its occupants on Monday, suspecting them of transporting illicit substances, according to a statement by Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba.
“In light of this serious development, the government has urgently recalled Ambassador Bangura to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident,” Kabba said, emphasizing that the envoy was neither in the vehicle nor under arrest.
“It has not been proven that the ambassador is involved in this trafficking,” the minister clarified.
The seized items also included $2,000 in cash, but the weight of the suspected drugs remains undisclosed.
Both nations are conducting a joint, in-depth investigation into the matter, with assurances that all individuals found culpable will be prosecuted.
“Anyone found guilty of violating Sierra Leonean or international drug trafficking laws will face the full force of the law,” Kabba stated.
West Africa remains a significant transit hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to Europe. In April 2024, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio declared drug abuse a national emergency, highlighting the country’s challenges with narcotics, including “Kush,” a dangerous psychoactive drug blend prevalent in local communities.
Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has also identified Freetown as a key destination for drugs that infiltrate the region.
