By Mohamed KaiKai
Sierra Leone’s police oversight body has opened an investigation into a recent cocaine seizure at Portee Wharf involving officers who carried out the operation, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) has summoned several police officers who participated in the seizure of a substance suspected to be cocaine, the sources said. Statements have been obtained from some of the officers as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the quantity of the seized drugs or the circumstances surrounding the operation. Police officials have also yet to comment on the scope or timeline of the investigation.
The probe comes amid heightened scrutiny of Sierra Leone’s role as a transit point for cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe. In recent years, West Africa has increasingly been used by international drug networks due to porous borders, weak enforcement capacity and strategic coastal access.
Large-scale seizures in Europe have at times been traced back to shipments routed through the region, including Sierra Leone, raising concerns among international law enforcement agencies.
The CDIID investigation is expected to examine whether proper procedures were followed during the Portee Wharf operation and if any misconduct occurred.
