By Saidu Jalloh, DS
June 5, 2026
Eight tonnes of cocaine worth €500 million, approximately Le13.5 trillion, have been traced to a container shipped from Sierra Leone in what German authorities call one of the country’s biggest drug seizures.
German customs officials at JadeWeserPort in Wilhelmshaven made the discovery on February 9, 2026. The seizure was announced publicly on June 3, 2026.
The container was declared as carrying 400 sacks of cocoa beans destined for Spain. X-ray screening revealed more than 400 packages wrapped in black foil. Each package contained about 20 compressed cocaine briquettes. Investigators say smugglers used GPS trackers to monitor the shipment.
Following a controlled delivery operation by German and Spanish authorities, two suspects were arrested in May 2026 in El Ejido, Almería province, Spain.
The case shows how trafficking networks are exploiting West African ports to move South American cocaine to Europe. Cocoa, one of Sierra Leone’s key agricultural exports, was used to conceal the illegal shipment.
Sierra Leone has strengthened port security and anti-narcotics operations, but officials acknowledge challenges remain due to limited resources and the country’s strategic location along major maritime routes.
The seizure could damage the reputation of Sierra Leonean cocoa exports. Legitimate farmers and exporters may face increased scrutiny from international buyers.
Experts estimate one-third of cocaine entering Europe now passes through West Africa. Traffickers target ports with weaker enforcement.
The Sierra Leone government has not issued an official statement on the case. The bust ranks among Germany’s largest cocaine seizures in recent years.
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