By Sulaiman Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has updated journalists on the alleged drug trafficking case involving a utility vehicle of the county’s embassy in neighbouring Guinea.
Minister Bah said, “Sierra Leone and Guinea this morning have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for joint judicial investigation into the issues involving the two countries and this is based on Articles 3, 19, 20, and 21 of the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime of 2000”, noting Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea along with the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister were on their way coming to Sierra Leone.
Bah was given an update during his ministry’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 at Miatta Conference Centre, Yuyie building in Freetown, saying the Foreign Affairs Minister had announced to effect the recall of the Ambassador to provide an update into the matter to the government of Sierra Leone.
It could be recalled that, on January 16, 2025 in an emergency press conference, Timothy Kabba, the country’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, informed the public about the impoundment of a vehicle belonging to the country’s embassy in Guinea for alleged drugs trafficking. During that press conference, Kabba noted that the government of Sierra Leone had recalled Mr. Alimamy Bangura to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident.
Chernor Bah reiterated that the government of President Bio is determined to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter through diplomatic means. He added that Timothy Kabba would update the public on his recent engagement with Guinean authorities.
In a related development, the Information Minister confirmed that Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice has received an official request from the Dutch government requesting the expedition of one Jos Leijdekkers who is alleged to be residing in the country. According to reports, Leijdekkers was convicted of drug trafficking in his home country, Holland.
Bah furthered that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice is studying the documents presented by the Dutch government and would advise the government on the next steps thereafter. He noted that the government of Sierra Leone will treat the case with utmost seriousness by following the rule of law, while highlighting the steps needed for one to be extradited out of the country.