Sierra Leone’s chief immigration officer was terminated after a video showed him accepting a gift from Jos Leijdekkers, a prominent drug trafficker. Leijdekkers, linked to organized crime and believed to be in hiding in Sierra Leone, has connections with high-ranking officials, raising concerns about government corruption. The police have launched a manhunt, but updates remain scarce, stressing the need for increased law enforcement efforts against drug trafficking in the region.
Sierra Leone’s chief immigration officer, Alusine Kanneh, was dismissed after a video surfaced showing him accepting a gift from Jos Leijdekkers, a notorious Dutch drug trafficker. The footage, released by the investigative outlet Follow the Money, depicted Kanneh engaging socially at a party where Leijdekkers was present, raising significant alarms regarding possible connections between illicit activities and government officials.
Leijdekkers, known by the alias “Chubby Jos”, is a prime suspect in the international cocaine trade, with the European Union’s Europol identifying him as a significant player. His presence in Sierra Leone was brought to light after the First Lady Fatima Bio shared social media content that closely matched Leijdekkers’ appearance at governmental events, suggesting a concerning mingling of officials with organized crime figures.
Sierra Leone’s opposition voice, Mohamed Mansaray, claimed that President Julius Maada Bio’s government is offering sanctuary to Leijdekkers, who has allegedly developed a relationship with the president’s daughter. Moreover, a Rotterdam court sentenced Leijdekkers to 24 years in prison for serious drug-related crimes, emphasizing the international concerns surrounding his activities.
In response to the ongoing predicament, Sierra Leone’s police initiated a manhunt to locate Leijdekkers, although subsequent updates have been lacking. Additionally, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel conveyed serious concerns regarding criminal activities escalating in Sierra Leone, postulating the notion that criminals should not be allowed to operate without oversight or consequence.
West Africa’s geographical positioning links it to global cocaine routes, exacerbating the challenges posed by trafficking networks targeting European markets. This incident underscores the complexities of governance and law enforcement in combating drug-related crime within the region.
In summary, the dismissal of Sierra Leone’s immigration chief following his involvement with a known drug trafficker highlights significant concerns regarding corruption and the deepening links between organized crime and government officials. Despite efforts to apprehend Leijdekkers, the insufficient updates on police initiatives suggest a gap in the law enforcement response to this critical issue. This situation poses a serious threat to international security, calling for urgent attention from both Sierra Leonean and global authorities.
Original Source: punchng.com
