Sierra Leone’s immigration chief was fired after a video surfaced of him accepting a gift from drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers. The video suggests potential ties between the drug lord and the country’s political elite. Leijdekkers, considered a major player in the cocaine trade, is wanted by Europol and has alleged links to President Bio’s family.
The chief immigration officer of Sierra Leone was dismissed shortly after a video surfaced showing him accepting a gift from notorious drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers. In the video posted by the investigative site Follow the Money, Alusine Kanneh was seen at a party laughing while taking the gift from Leijdekkers, who is evading law enforcement in Sierra Leone. The incident has raised concerns about potential links between the drug lord and Sierra Leone’s political elite, including President Julius Maada Bio and his daughter.
The video, believed to have been filmed last year, also featured Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, the head of Sierra Leone’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Following the video’s release, the government confirmed that President Bio had exercised his authority to dismiss Kanneh. Information Minister Chernor Bah emphasized that the reasons for the dismissal are at the discretion of the president.
Leijdekkers, also known as “Omar Sheriff,” is considered a significant figure in the international cocaine trade according to Europol. Speculations regarding his presence in Sierra Leone have intensified following social media posts by the First Lady, which included images of a man resembling Leijdekkers at a religious event alongside President Bio. Exiled opposition leader Mohamed Mansaray has alleged that the current administration is facilitating the drug lord’s status in the country, further claiming that Leijdekkers is romantically linked to the president’s daughter.
In June, a Rotterdam court sentenced Leijdekkers to 24 years for serious criminal offenses, including murder and cocaine trafficking. Europol has placed him on its most wanted list and is offering a significant reward for information leading to his capture. In February, Sierra Leonean authorities announced a manhunt for Leijdekkers but have since provided no updates on the investigation. Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel has engaged with Sierra Leone’s authorities regarding the matter, stressing that criminals must not operate freely, particularly in West Africa, a known transit route for drug trafficking.
The dismissal of Sierra Leone’s immigration chief, Alusine Kanneh, highlights a critical issue regarding corruption and drug trafficking within the country. The video of Kanneh accepting a gift from a notorious drug lord raises alarm about the potential collusion between organized crime and political figures. As authorities continue their efforts to locate Leijdekkers, the revelations prompt concerns about the integrity of Sierra Leone’s governance and its response to international drug trafficking.
Original Source: punchng.com
