Aruna Turay, AYV News, January 29, 2025
The question on why are opposition political parties in Sierra Leone silent on the issue of drug trafficking mess in the country has been the topic of the day in most social media platforms.
Many people believe that it is the responsibility of the opposition to speak forcefully against the decision to use the country as a hub for the trafficking and distribution of dangerous and illegal drugs.
A political analyst who prefers anonymity said: “Our nation is in a serious crisis and much is expected from the opposition regarding the illicit drugs and several other issues that affect the national security interest of our country”.
Reports say leaders of many countries in West Africa have publicly expressed concerns about the impact of illicit drugs that are trafficked from Sierra Leone and have already trafficked in their countries, with some Sierra Leoneans already arrested with drugs in those countries.
“Being silent over all these issues indicates that Sierra Leone’s opposition parties might have compromised the interests of their parties as oppositions for their personal gains”. Steve Mansaray, a popular social media handler wrote, adding; “…they have failed to honor their responsibilities and duties as opposition parties, primarily to protect their business interests and several unexplained factors”.
He said it is the responsibility of members of the opposition to represent the interests of the people, especially in speaking against anything that has the potential to affect the interests of the public.
Steve said it is now clear that the country’s opposition parties have neglected their duties, which according to him, will affect the country’s democracy and their chances of winning elections in 2028.
Recently, Sierra Leone recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Guinea after seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine were found in an embassy vehicle.Guinean authorities impounded a vehicle belonging to Sierra Leone’s embassy and detained its occupants on suspicion of possessing “substances suspected to be cocaine”, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba said.
The BBC recently reported that local communities have called on the Government of Sierra Leone to tackle the scourge and help them deal with drug users.
As if that was not enough national shame, The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, recently reported that Sierra Leone is suspected of being a shipment point for large volumes of Latin American cocaine heading to Europe.
The media outlet went on that one of Europe’s most-wanted drug traffickers, Jos Leijdekkers, hiding in Sierra Leone.
The statement came after Dutch media published footage that appeared to show the violent drug trafficker at a New Year’s Day church service seated close to Sierra Leone’s presidential family. Sierra Leone’s information office said it was investigating reports that he was benefiting from high-level protection.
In a statement, Dutch prosecutors said he had been staying in Sierra Leone for at least six months and the highest priority was to get him to the Netherlands to serve his sentence. A reward of €200,000 (£168,430) has been offered for decisive information that leads to his arrest.
Leijdekkers, who is on the Netherlands’ and Europol’s most wanted list, was sentenced in absentia by a Rotterdam court last June to 24 years in prison for six drug transports totalling 7,000kg of cocaine, an armed robbery in Finland and ordering murder.
Last September a Belgian court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for Drug Trafficking offenses and Assault.
Again, on January 19, 2025, a suspected cocaine boat appeared at Black Johnson Beach in Sierra Leone’s peninsular, sparking concerns about drug trafficking along the nation’s coastline. This incident underscoredthe need for stronger maritime security, surveillance, and community efforts to combat organised crime and protect the region.
Upon all these degrading news for Sierra Leone internationally, the total silence of the opposition has brought mixed feelings and suspicion with allegations of high-level bribery circulation.
