PRESS STATEMENT
DRUG TRAFFICKING IN SIERRA LEONE
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) wishes to express its disappointment and concerns about the recent spate of drug smuggling into the country and the use of Sierra Leone for transshipment. Although there were reports of hard drug trafficking in the past, the situation has reached an alarming proportion during the past 10 months.
On Sunday July 13, 2008, a plane loaded with cocaine landed at the Lungi International Airport. Police investigations have started. We shall continue monitoring the situation and may make further statement on this issue. At this stage, we would like to make the following preliminary statements and appeals:
• The SLPP strongly condemns drug trafficking to, from and within Sierra Leone.
• The SLPP welcomes the instructions of H E President Koroma for full investigation of the saga.
• We urge the government to speed up this investigation and punish all those involved in such criminal conduct.
• SLPP believes that it is highly unlikely that a plane can carry such quantity of drug to a country without the knowledge and participation of highly placed government functionaries.
• The trafficking of drug and its widespread internal use, usually by our most valuable human resource, our youths, is partly responsible for the recent rise in violent conducts among these youths.
• Using Sierra Leone as a conduit for drugs is a disgrace to the nation and a dent on our international reputation.
• SLPP is worried that this single incident may put Sierra Leone in a category of rogue state.
• The smear on our international image has implications for our citizens traveling overseas and for the government in accessing the much needed international funding for our development activities.
Signed
Jacob Jusu Saffa
National Secretary-General