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The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is poised to strengthen its crime-fighting capabilities following high-level discussions with a visiting delegation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Regional Headquarters in Dakar, Senegal.
The meeting, held in Freetown, brought together top officials from both sides to explore a partnership focused on capacity building within the SLP.
Leading the HSI delegation was Kenneth Broch Ford, who outlined the agency’s investigative priorities—ranging from organized crime and drug and human trafficking to money laundering, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and cybercrime.
He reaffirmed HSI’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone through specialized training programs tailored to the operational needs of the police.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu, welcomed the initiative, expressing optimism about the partnership’s potential to enhance the SLP’s effectiveness.
“What’s paramount to me is training, because crime is changing its face on a daily basis,” he stated, acknowledging the urgent need to equip personnel with modern investigative skills.
IGP Sellu also drew attention to the growing threat of scams, notably the QNET Scam, and stressed the importance of developing specific expertise to address such sophisticated criminal activities.
The Inspector General pledged his full support for the proposed collaboration and emphasized its broader significance for national security and public safety.
The meeting concluded with a group photo to commemorate the beginning of what is expected to be a meaningful and productive partnership between the SLP and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
