How growing drug scandals may undermine Bio’s global image campaign
By Alhaji Haruna Sani
When President Julius Maada Bio assumed office in 2018, he declared his commitment to restoring Sierra Leone’s international reputation. Among his key priorities were tackling corruption, implementing Free Quality Education, and blocking financial leakages. However, his most ambitious claim has been his mission to clean the country’s tarnished image, an effort that has cost Sierra Leone over $27 million in international travel expenses.
Despite justifying frequent trips as necessary to rebuild trust in Sierra Leone’s governance and economic potential, President Bio’s administration now finds itself entangled in a series of high-profile drug-related scandals that threaten to undo his diplomatic efforts.
International organized crime, particularly drug trafficking, is arguably more damaging to a nation’s image than corruption or unpaid hotel bills. While corruption scandals dent investor confidence, a country linked to global narcotics trade risks sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and reputational ruin.
Sierra Leone has recently been at the centre of multiple drug-related controversies ranging from a 40-foot container which some citizens including journalists initially suspected to be a shipment of cocaine, which authorities later claimed it was merely assorted chicken, leaving many Sierra Leoneans doubted to unauthorized aircraft landing in Lungi (September 2024) – A private plane with four crew members landed without permission, raising suspicions of drug smuggling.
Locals also discovered a mini-submarine near Sierra Leone’s shores on the peninsular of Freetown was rumoured to be transporting illegal drugs. However, officials insisted it was carrying cassava.
The President’s sister and her husband were also accused of manufacturing Kush (a highly addictive synthetic drug) but police searched their residence and claimed they found nothing.
In a shocking revelation in January this year, Sierra Leone Embassy vehicle was caught trafficking seven suitcases of cocaine to Guinea and that diplomatic saga is yet to be resolved.
Perhaps, most serious among all those allegations has to do with Leijdekkers, a fugitive drug baron. Reports surfaced that notorious Dutch drug lord Leijdekkers was not only hiding in Sierra Leone but had connections to individuals in the corridors of power, including the President’s daughter.
Those incidents have raised serious concerns about Sierra Leone’s vulnerability to international drug cartels. Observers argue that weak governance, porous borders, and systemic corruption have made the country an easy transit hub for cocaine smuggling from Latin America to Europe.
Following the Sierra Leone Embassy drug scandal in Guinea, the Ministries of Information and Foreign Affairs issued a press release, but rather than clarifying the situation, it raised more questions than answers. Many viewed it as a damage-control attempt rather than a transparent effort to address the issue.
Critics argue that despite President Bio’s public commitments to fighting transnational crime, the continued exposure of drug-related incidents suggests a lack of political will or internal complicity. The repeated involvement of Sierra Leone in major drug trafficking cases paints a disturbing picture of the country’s growing role in international narcotics trade.
The need for urgent and decisive action
If Sierra Leone is to salvage its international reputation and deter further infiltration by drug cartels, the Bio administration must take bold and immediate action:
Launch an Independent Investigation – A transparent, high-level independent inquiry into these drug scandals is crucial. Those found complicit, regardless of their status, must face justice.
Strengthen Border and Airport Security – Surveillance at Sierra Leone’s ports and airports must be improved with advanced technology and trained personnel to prevent illicit drug smuggling.
Cooperate with International Agencies – Engaging with global law enforcement bodies like Interpol, the DEA, and the UNODC can help track and dismantle drug networks operating in the country.
Enforce Strict Accountability for Government Officials – Any government personnel, including those in diplomatic missions, found facilitating drug trafficking should be prosecuted, dismissed, and blacklisted from public office.
Public Transparency and Information Disclosure – The government should provide clear, consistent, and factual reports on drug-related crimes to regain public trust. Cover-ups and vague explanations will only fuel speculation and further damage Sierra Leone’s image.
Sierra Leone’s continued entanglement in drug trafficking scandals is not just an embarrassment; it is a threat to national security, economic development, and international credibility. President Bio must recognize that restoring the country’s image is not about high-profile foreign trips, but about enforcing law and order at home.
If drug-related crimes are not tackled decisively, Sierra Leone risks becoming a permanent hub for international drug cartels, jeopardizing the country’s diplomatic ties and economic progress.
The world is watching, and the responsibility to act rests squarely on the shoulders of the Bio administration.
Sierra Leone cannot afford to let its name be synonymous with cocaine trafficking.
