Sierra Leonean Drug Suspect Arrested with British Passport at Freetown Airport

Musa Koroma, a Sierra Leonean national holding a British passport, has been arrested at Freetown International Airport in possession of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana.

The arrest was announced by Michael J. K. Lagga, head of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, and took place as Koroma attempted to leave the country. Lagga noted that the case highlights the growing involvement of foreign nationals in the illegal drug trade in Sierra Leone and the increasing use of foreign documents by suspected criminals.

In addition to Koroma, two other individuals—Allieu Jagitay and Mohamed Jagitay—were apprehended with three cartons and 23 separate quantities of tablets believed to be tramadol. Another suspect, Mohamed Fornah, was arrested with four parcels of dried leaves suspected to be kush. All substances have been sent to a laboratory for further testing and analysis to aid the investigation.

The arrests form part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking and contraband substances in Sierra Leone. Lagga emphasized the threat that illicit drugs pose to the mental and social well-being of young people and warned that, despite increased law enforcement efforts, more individuals are engaging in drug peddling.

Authorities reported that police conducted 218 raids in the past week alone, resulting in several arrests. One suspect has been charged and sent to court, 43 individuals have been referred to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit for further investigation, 61 cases remain under investigation, 24 individuals have been warned and released, and one case has been sent to the Criminal Investigations Department for further processing.

Lagga reaffirmed the police’s commitment to combating the spread of illicit substances, stating that continuous raids and arrests reflect the authorities’ determination to address the persistent challenge of drug-related crime in the country.