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Sierra Leone is a Major Cocaine Trafficking Hub to Europe

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Sierra Leone, like Guinea-Bissau and Mali in West Africa, has become a transit hub for cocaine trafficking to Europe, with coastal Africa playing a central role for transnational organized crime networks. These networks, including those reportedly led by convicted Dutch trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, exploit the region's strategic geographic location between Latin American production zones and European consumer markets. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime , cocaine trafficking represents one of the most profitable criminal economies, encouraging sophisticated networks to involve local and regional actors, and to invest in infrastructure and protection. Enhanced enforcement on direct Latin America–Europe routes and improved trade connectivity have made West Africa an attractive alternative for traffickers, who exploit legitimate trade to conceal shipments. Cocaine shipments are often stored, repackaged, and transferred between modalities in West Afr...
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In the Bleak Midwinter, what can Sierra Leone give?

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"What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what can I give Him: Give my heart," comes from the famous Christmas carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter," a poem by Christina Rossetti. It expresses the idea that the most valuable gift a person, regardless of their wealth or status, can offer is their devotion, love, and heart, which may not count for much in modern geopolitics.  In 2024, Samura Kamara, a popular presidential candidate in Sierra Leone's June 2023 elections, shared a somber post on social media. His message is even more poignant in light of recent events. Read on The triumph of democracy in Sierra Leone is crucial: can we draw parallels with international reactions to the aftermath of the Venezuelan presidential elections? In examining the outcomes of the recent Venezuelan presidential election and the June 24, 2023, Sierra Leone presidential election, several notable paralle...
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Retired lieutenant Lahai Lawrence Leema can dish it out...but can't take it

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  In 2021, numerous reports stated that a by-election in Koinadugu, the largest district in Sierra Leone and one of the least densely populated, had been taken over by Lahai Lawrence Leema, then deputy minister of internal affairs and a retired military officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone. " It has become too much the case that thugs overrun our polling stations during bye-elections with the police throwing their hands in the air as if it is not their job to keep the peace ," wrote Vickie Remoe, a media producer. A leading voice opposing violence and intimidation, Remoe praised the Sierra Leonean observers of National Election Watch (NEW) for their commitment to transparency at polling stations. The following week, on Africa Young Voices (AYV) television, Leema attacked Marcella Samba Sesay while on-air with AYV's Samuel Wise Bangura. Before being evacuated from Sierra Leone for her safety after the June 2023 elections, Sesay served as the executive director of the Ca...
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Drug lord has Sierra Leone in his pocket, thanks to corrupt connections

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 An X post reports on an AD newspaper article detailing a tense exchange at a summit, where the Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof urged Maada Bio to extradite Jos "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers, a fugitive convicted of smuggling over 1,000 kg of cocaine valued at €50 million. Leijdekkers, a 33-year-old Dutch national wanted since 2023, evaded capture by relocating to Sierra Leone, marrying Bio's daughter Agnes in early 2024, and integrating into the president's inner circle, as evidenced by photos of him at official events alongside family members. This family connection has complicated bilateral ties, with Dutch officials viewing it as state-sponsored protection for a major European drug trafficker, potentially affecting Sierra Leone's international aid and cooperation amid ongoing scrutiny of Bio's administration. Prime Minister Dick Schoof has urgently requested the President of Sierra Leone to extradite cocaine dealer "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers....
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Maada Bio 'washes his hands' and blames others for persistent drug epidemic in Sierra Leone

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Today marks a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. While we take a moment to recognize this important day, our focus shifts to a troubling situation in Freetown. Recent reports from the Freetown City Council (FCC) highlight a disturbing rise in the number of deceased individuals found on the streets, especially among the youth. This tragic increase in fatalities has been mainly linked to the emerging Kush pandemic, raising urgent public health concerns. Since January 2025, the FCC has reported a staggering total of 253 bodies collected , putting immense pressure on the city's mortuary facilities and burial operations. The situation at the Connaught Hospital mortuary has become increasingly difficult, with a growing number of unclaimed and unidentified bodies. Similar issues have arisen in other regions, complicating efforts to accommodate additional remains. There have been instances where caretakers, o...
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The Drug Lord Saga in Sierra Leone has taken a New Direction

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  It's been ten months since reports emerged that convicted Dutch drug smuggler Jos Leijdekkers was in Sierra Leone. Some newspaper articles  suggested he may have been in the country for more than two years before this revelation, indicating that Sierra Leone's president and his men welcomed the drug dealer with open arms.  In February, the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security  reportedly expressed frustration over the Sierra Leone government's lack of cooperation. Dutch media indicated that the minister was becoming increasingly impatient with Sierra Leone's handling of the situation. According to the NL Times , in September, Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison and fined 24,000 euros by a Belgian court for smuggling 3,500 kilograms of cocaine in Antwerp in 2020. The report also stated that in 2024, he received a 24-year sentence for orchestrating six cocaine shipments totaling 7,000 kilograms, committing a violent robbery in Finland, an...
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A weak research track record makes it difficult for the USL to secure funding for research activities

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The University of Sierra Leone is a public university located in Freetown. Established in 1827 as Fourah Bay College, it was the first Western-style institution of higher learning in West Africa. Freetown was even nicknamed "the Athens of West Africa" due to the presence of the college. Currently, the USL consists of three constituent colleges.  Fourah Bay College is the oldest college and specializes in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Sciences. The Church Missionary Society founded it. The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) was established in 1980. IPAM initially trained civil servants but now serves as the university's business school. It offers programs in business, IT, finance, and public administration. The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) focuses on training medical and health professionals. The university is featured in Times Higher Education 's global "Impact Rankings," which assess universitie...
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