BREAKING: 18 Arrested, 400 Detained as Security Forces Raid Suspected International Cybercrime Network in Sierra Leone
Sahid Bangura Sierra Leone’s security forces have arrested 18 people and detained approximately 400 others during coordinated raids targeting a suspected international cybercrime network operating in Freetown and Kenema.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA), uncovered a large collection of electronic devices, telecommunications equipment and travel documents believed to be relevant to ongoing investigations into the suspected criminal network.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, the raids resulted in the seizure of 1,206 mobile phones, more than 500 computers and monitors, 301 passports and 339 SIM cards, including 289 international SIM cards and 50 local ones.
Other items recovered included laptops, nine central processing units, five servers, an iPad, translator glasses, a smartwatch, chargers, accessories, 22 dry-cell batteries and an automatic voltage regulator.
The ministry said those detained include Sierra Leoneans and foreign nationals of African and Asian origin. However, authorities have yet to establish the full extent of the suspected network’s activities, its international connections and how its operations were financed or facilitated.
The scale of the seizures has raised concerns about the possibility of an organised, cross-border criminal enterprise operating within the country. Investigations are expected to establish the individuals and organisations behind the suspected network and determine the extent of its activities in Sierra Leone.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to preventing the country’s communications infrastructure from being exploited for criminal purposes. It said the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, NaTCA and the security services would continue to monitor and respond to suspected cybercrime activities.
Authorities also urged members of the public to report suspected cybercrime and suspicious operations to the appropriate agencies, assuring that further verified information would be released as investigations progress.
The government maintained that anyone found responsible for criminal activities would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
