By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope Reporter
Musa Koroma, a Sierra Leonean citizen holding a British passport, has been arrested at Freetown International Airport while attempting to leave the country with dried leaves suspected to be marijuana.
The arrest was confirmed by Michael J. K. Lagga, head of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, who indicated that this incident underscores a troubling trend of increasing involvement by foreign nationals in Sierra Leone’s illegal drug trade, as well as the misuse of foreign documentation by suspected criminals.
In addition to Koroma, two other individuals, Allieu Jagitay and Mohamed Jagitay, were detained with three cartons containing 23 different quantities of tablets believed to be tramadol. Another suspect, Mohamed Fornah, was arrested with four parcels of dried leaves thought to be kush. All drug substances have been forwarded to a laboratory for testing and analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
These arrests are part of a wider operation aimed at combating drug trafficking and contraband within Sierra Leone. Lagga remarked on the significant risk posed by illicit drugs to the mental and social health of young people, warning that despite intensified law enforcement efforts, the trend of drug peddling continues to rise.
Authorities reported executing 218 raids in the previous week, leading to multiple arrests. So far, one suspect has been charged and is awaiting court proceedings. Additionally, 43 individuals have been referred to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit for further investigation, while 61 cases remain under review. Twenty-four individuals received warnings and were subsequently released, and one case has been directed to the Criminal Investigations Department for further processing.
Lagga reiterated the police’s unwavering commitment to combatting the spread of illegal substances, stating that ongoing raids and arrests reflect the authorities’ determination to tackle the persistent issue of drug-related crime in the country.
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