Freetown Court to Deliver Verdict in Portuguese Nationals' Cocaine Trafficking Case

The court is set to deliver its verdict in the cocaine possession trial of two Portuguese nationals.

Sana Sidi, a 41-year-old electrician from 9 Estrada Meletor, Portugal, and Samba Blade, a 34-year-old mason originally from Guinea Bissau and residing in Lisbon, Portugal, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown.

The defendants are charged with Possession of Prohibited Drugs without lawful authority and Transportation of Prohibited Drugs without lawful authority.

On September 29, 2024, at Freetown International Airport in Lungi, Port Loko District, the suspects were discovered with 16 pellets of cocaine. They were apprehended at the same location on the same day while transporting the illegal substance.

Prosecutor ABM Taylor Kamara requested an interpreter, as the accused did not understand English. The court approved this request, appointing Umaru Bah as the interpreter.

Detective Sergeant Prince Jabati of the Tactical Operations Crime Unit (TOCU) testified that he identified the suspects and received the case files, which included the arrest reports and the exhibit: a package containing 16 compressed parcels of a white substance suspected to be cocaine, concealed within two boxes.

Interviews with the suspects were conducted separately, with Detective A. Jalloh assisting.

The first accused was questioned and cautioned in English, with the exchange interpreted into Fullah. He admitted the substance was cocaine, a confession verified by his thumbprint on a statement read to him in both English and Fullah. The arrest report for the first accused was marked as exhibit F1-10.

The second accused underwent a similar process, also admitting to the nature of the substance, with his statement recorded as G1-10.

Laboratory Analysis and Legal Proceedings

A written request was submitted for laboratory analysis, and the resulting report was produced as exhibit H. A subsequent request concerning the second accused was recorded as exhibit J.

The laboratory confirmed the substance was cocaine, and the report was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, which was received on October 7, 2024, as exhibit K.

The prosecution charged the suspects and presented their statements, which were read and interpreted for both accused, with their thumbprints confirming their admission of the charges. The charge statements were marked as L1-3 for the first accused and M1-3 for the second.

Defense counsel MY Kanu stated that they relied on the court’s inherent jurisdiction and sought justice.

Magistrate Jah ordered the suspects to be remanded and announced that a ruling would be delivered the following day. The case was adjourned to July 9, 2025.