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An alleged human trafficking network is under investigation after more than 20 Sierra Leoneans were reportedly lured into a fraudulent migration scheme promising visas to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
According to The Standard newspaper and the Sierra Leone High Commission in The Gambia, victims were recruited in Sierra Leone with assurances of facilitated overseas travel. They were allegedly asked to pay between US$1,000 and US$1,500 in processing fees before being transported to The Gambia.
Upon arrival, some victims reportedly had their passports and mobile phones confiscated and were housed in compounds in Busumbala and Farato, communities located outside the capital, Banjul. Victims claimed they were informed that their visa applications were being processed locally, but many remained in the compounds for extended periods without clear information about their travel status.
The Sierra Leone High Commission said it uncovered the alleged operation following a tip-off. Officials visited a compound in Busumbala, where they found dozens of young men and women who said they had been deceived into travelling under false pretences. Several victims reportedly said they had sold family land and other assets to raise the required fees.
Mahawa Allieu, Communications Attaché at the High Commission, stated that at least 21 Sierra Leoneans were allegedly involved in the network as recruiters. She said these individuals used social media platforms and fabricated digital content, including edited or generated images, to create false impressions of successful migration cases in order to attract new victims.
In a coordinated operation led by Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to The Gambia, Martha Consilia Kanagbo, authorities raided one of the compounds in Busumbala. The operation resulted in the rescue of 24 women and two men believed to be victims of the scheme.
Gambian authorities have reportedly arrested suspected members of the network, although details of those detained and any formal charges have not yet been disclosed.
Officials in both Sierra Leone and The Gambia say investigations are ongoing, with concerns that additional victims may still be held in other locations. The full scope of the alleged trafficking network remains under investigation.
Authorities across West Africa continue to warn the public against paying large sums for unverified migration opportunities, noting that fraudulent recruitment schemes increasingly target young people seeking employment abroad.
No formal charges have been announced at this stage.
