Sierra Leone: Abandoned Drug Plane - Nine Foreigners Arrested
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Concord Times (Freetown)
16 July 2008
Posted to the web 15 July 2008
Mohamed Massaquoi
Lungi
In connection with the abandoned plane at the Lungi International Airport containing 703.5 kilograms of cocaine on Sunday, nine foreigners including four Colombians, two Mexicans and an American have been arrested by the Sierra Leone Police.
The plane, with two registration numbers SQ 2261 and YV1647, and a Red Cross logo, was said to have landed without authority to do so and its crew managed to escape from the airstrip through a waiting vehicle which crashed through one of the nearby airport gates.
After the drugs were discovered in the plane, five guns including three AK- 47 and two AK-48 rifles with ten magazines and three hundred and fifty rounds of ammunitions, were also found along the Kasonga area of the perimeter fence close to the gate.
The guns and ammunition were reportedly taken to Freetown by President Ernest Koroma's convoy when he visited the scene on Sunday.After the seizure, which has been described as Sierra Leone's largest, police set up checkpoints on roads from Lungi to other parts of the country. In that process, some people were arrested. "We were able to arrest some people. We have nine foreign nationals now. Four had Colombian passports, two Mexican passports. There was one American, one from Guinea Bissau and another ... white man," Assistant Inspector General Francis Munu told Reuters.The suspected pilot was captured late Sunday at one of the checkpoints while the others were caught in Freetown.
Unconfirmed reports also have it that the chief of airport police, the airport manager and the control tower operator are being questioned along with the arrested foreigners on suspicion that they knew about the plane's arrival.
Speaking to some natives of Lungi, residents of Kafur Bullom chiefdom, Port Loko district blamed security personnel for their negligence to guard the airport and arrest the culprits before fleeing the airport environment.
The confused state of security operatives was blamed for Sunday's unfortunate incident.
"It is difficult to know the main security apparatus that are responsible for the security of the airport. We have the police, the Office of National Security and the airport security. But on that particular night, the airport was dark and the runway lights were completely switched off," says Joseph Kamara, a resident living along the perimeter fence of the airport.
He disclosed that immediately the plane landed, there was commotion among security personnel at the airport as to who should be blamed for its unauthorized landing.
"When I heard the sound of the aircraft, I had to rush to the scene in order to help the passengers with their luggage. Unfortunately there was a serious argument among the few security personnel I met. I am sure if there was a very strong security, these guys could have been arrested," he said.
Kamara added that the plane taxied for over ten minutes but there were no security personnel around to arrest the plane's crew even after landing.
Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of crime services, Francis Munu told Concord Times that they got information from Rogbere junction that two persons were interrogated by the police but one of them escaped and jumped into the bush.
"We have invited certain people to help us investigate the matter, while consignments that were onboard the plane, have been taken to Freetown. We are asking Sierra Leoneans more especially those in the villages around to report to the police any strange persons in their community," he concluded.
Police spokesman Karefa Daboh also said there were observed lapses at the airport on the said night which is why they are investigating some of the police officers at the airport, airport personnel, and some people who were involved in operations at the airport. He said this is to establish a connivance with the other criminals, on the part of some of these officials.
Public Relations Manager of the Sierra Leone Airports Authority, Mohamed Swarray described the incident as unfortunate and explained that though officers of the control tower prevailed on the pilot not to land at the airport, the assailants succeeded in landing.
According to reports, this incident is coming after a recent warning from the US embassy in Freetown that some members of the police force in Sierra Leone are working with organised criminals.
Relevant Links
However, the seized drugs are now with the United Nations and British-led International Military Advisory Training Team (IMATT).
Read comments. Write your own.
Because of the way the police,and top airport officals have become poluted it is very difficult to trust any of them. We must learn to think objectively for the benefit of the country irespective of our political affiliation or sympathy.THE police system,and the airport management need acomplete overhaul.I HAVE WITTNESSED MANY A TIME WHEN POLICE OFFICERS harrass citizens and allow foriegners to pass freely atimes with poloice protection. You journalist should write more about this. Arun Bangura.
It smells like a rotten fish. The police is involved, and should be held accountable. I mean the top of the police force.
In connection with the abandoned plane at the Lungi international Airport,i will first of all put the Blam on the Air Port Manager and some Highranking Officer of the Sierrra Leone Police, i belive this is not the First Time this has Started in this Country, it has started for long time is just because it come out this time, evern some Goverment Official knows about this deal, i whould like Presendent Koroma & Iformation Minister to take Drastic action towards this matter, no matter your position you should fast the full penality of the Law, I belive no one… [Read Full Text]
When a nation neglect to keep an owl eyes at its frontiers leaving its exit and entry points porous and widely open and insecure,the American saying to the effect is that "what you see is what you get"...a crack cocaine filled airplane landing at the only international port without any invitation and with no authority so to speak,in outright violation of the air traffic laws of the country and our space rights.Gone but not forgotton the rebel war for which so many of our compatroits will be guilty for ever.Drug cocaine either powder or rock remain the number one leading… [Read Full Text]
I quite agree with I Munu. Heads must roll! For the sake of all law abiding and progressive Sierra Leoneans who believe in genuine means to achieve wealth and power, I and many others urge the president to set a good example
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It is amazing to see that President's entourage ceased the arms and amunition and IMATT/UN confiscated the drugs.Dont they have Police in Sierra Leone, and is President/entourage crime buster???