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Sierra Leone Minister of Internal Affairs Morie Lengor has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration to tackle transnational organised and financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorism financing in Sierra Leone
Speaking at a meeting with the TOCU and FIA, Minister Lengor said they must make criminal activities increasingly difficult by not only targeting offenders but also tracing the proceeds generated from their activities. He emphasised the need to “follow the money,” noting that the Financial Intelligence Agency plays a critical role in investigating financial transactions linked to predicate offences and organised crime.
He said the meeting was convened to brainstorm practical measures to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and ensure that investigations go beyond arrests to trace, recover, and confiscate assets linked to organised criminal activities and other predicate offences.
Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) Director General, David N. Borbor, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working closely with law enforcement institutions, including TOCU, to trace and deprive criminals of the proceeds of crime.
He said the FIA supports investigations by profiling suspects, tracing assets and following financial trails, stressing that crime should not be allowed to become a profitable venture. He said the Agency is prepared to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and ensure that investigations go beyond arrests to trace, recover, and participate in joint investigations and provide financial intelligence and expertise to law enforcement agencies, including through its regional offices in Makeni, Bo, Kenema and Koidu.
He said the agency is working with mobile money operators to collect data on reported incidents and conduct an internal assessment of the scale of the problem, with plans to produce strategic intelligence that could guide law enforcement and government action.
The Head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), Rev. Michael JK Laggah, Detective Chief Superintendent of Police, reported that the unit has secured 104 convictions through its ongoing investigations into transnational and organised crime.
Mr Laggah said TOCU continues to work closely with partner institutions, including the Pharmacy Board and the Financial Intelligence Unit, particularly in investigating crimes and tracing proceeds suspected to have been generated from criminal activities.
Finally, at the end of the meeting, it was agreed that an MOU between TOCU and the FIA be developed for proper coordination and collaboration to follow proceeds of crime and prevent criminals from profiting from crime.
