Post a comment 
Former Minister and political commentator, Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, has released what she describes as official documentary evidence and video footage to support claims that a container carrying approximately eight tonnes of cocaine seized in Germany earlier this year originated from Sierra Leone.
In a detailed public statement accompanied by excerpts from a joint Spanish-German operation, Blyden said the container intercepted at the Jade-Weser Port in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, was shipped from Sierra Leone and was destined for Barcelona, Spain.
According to Blyden, the evidence was released in response to recent comments made by Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh regarding media reports on the drug seizure. She criticised the Chief Minister for questioning reports linking Sierra Leone to the shipment and for his remarks directed at investigative journalists and international partners.
Blyden cited an official June 3, 2026 press release jointly issued by Spanish and German customs authorities, which stated that German customs officials selected for inspection a container “from Sierra Leone destined for Barcelona (Spain).” The shipment was reportedly declared as containing 400 sacks of cocoa beans.
The joint statement indicated that authorities discovered more than 400 packages containing approximately eight tonnes of cocaine concealed inside the container. The illicit cargo was valued by German authorities at approximately 582 million US dollars.
The Spanish-German investigation reportedly led to the arrest of two suspects in Almería, Spain, following a controlled delivery operation coordinated between customs authorities in both countries.
Blyden argued that the focus of public discourse should shift from Sierra Leone’s port authorities to identifying and prosecuting the individuals or companies responsible for shipping the container. She maintained that shipping containers are typically loaded before arriving at the port and stressed the importance of tracing the exporters and shippers involved.
She also referenced previous international drug seizures allegedly linked to shipments originating from Sierra Leone, including cases in Belgium and the United Kingdom, and called on Sierra Leonean authorities to work closely with their European counterparts to identify those responsible.
The political commentator further urged fact-checking organisations and media institutions to review previous assessments concerning the origin of the seized container in light of the official documents she presented.
Neither the Government of Sierra Leone nor the Office of the Chief Minister had issued an immediate response to Blyden’s latest claims at the time of publication.
The Spanish and German authorities have confirmed the seizure and subsequent arrests as part of a joint anti-drug operation, while investigations into the wider criminal network involved in the shipment remain ongoing.
