Sierra Leone has recalled its ambassador to Guinea after authorities discovered seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine in a vehicle linked to the country’s embassy.
Guinean officials seized the vehicle on Monday and detained its occupants on suspicion of drug trafficking.
Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, stated that Ambassador Alimamy Bangura, who was not in the vehicle at the time, has been summoned to Freetown for clarification. Kabba emphasized that the ambassador is not under investigation for drug trafficking.
He also revealed that $2,000 in cash was found alongside the suspected drugs, though the exact quantity of cocaine remains undisclosed.
The governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone are collaborating on a comprehensive investigation, with Sierra Leone assuring accountability for any individuals found violating drug trafficking laws.
This incident highlights West Africa’s ongoing struggle with its role as a transit hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to Europe. The region is also dealing with a rise in local drug abuse, prompting Sierra Leone’s president to declare drug misuse a national emergency last year.
