Freetown Port Under Scrutiny Amidst Smuggling Allegations and Conflicting Official Reports

Freetown Port Under Scrutiny Amidst Smuggling Allegations and Conflicting Official Reports

Conflicting accounts from government bodies have ignited public concern following allegations that sixteen shipping containers were illicitly smuggled from the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. The controversy has cast a spotlight on customs protocols and port security, prompting calls for transparency and accountability.

Truth Media initially reported the alleged smuggling, leading the National Revenue Authority (NRA) to launch a formal investigation into what it describes as "fraudulent practices" involving the unauthorized clearing of containers without proper customs procedures or duty payments. On October 10, the NRA’s Commissioner-General confirmed a multi-agency probe, involving the Sierra Leone Police, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The NRA has vowed to reclaim lost revenue and prosecute those responsible.

However, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the reports as "false, misleading, and completely unfounded." The SLPHA asserted that no such incident occurred, adding that port operations are suspended on Sundays, the day the alleged smuggling reportedly took place. The authority also stated that no verifiable container numbers or shipment details have been provided to substantiate the claims.

Adding to the complexity, social media reports suggest the containers were moved at midnight with the alleged involvement of a syndicate comprising senior police officers and government officials. Following media alerts, three containers were reportedly intercepted by police and taken to Ross Road Police Station, with one of them allegedly vanishing overnight. Inspections by CID officers have been described as "staged," and journalists were reportedly barred from observing the process.

Further allegations include a payment of Le 520,000 for the release of the containers, with additional sums purportedly distributed among CID personnel and senior officers.

The public is now demanding answers to critical questions: If the SLPHA denies the incident, why is the NRA conducting a full investigation? If containers were intercepted, why was journalistic access restricted, and how did one container disappear? And if government officials are implicated, who will guarantee accountability?

As of yet, authorities have not announced plans for an independent investigation or released any findings to the public, intensifying the demand for clarity amidst the conflicting narratives.