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🇸🇱 Diplomatic Scandal: Cocaine Bust in Guinea Involving Sierra Leonean Embassy Vehicle Sparks Investigation

The diplomatic reputation of Sierra Leone has come under scrutiny following the discovery of seven suitcases containing cocaine and $2,000 in cash in a vehicle with diplomatic plates belonging to its embassy in Conakry, Guinea. The incident occurred on Monday, January 13, 2025, and has raised significant questions about possible corruption and illicit activities involving embassy staff.

According to the Awoko Newspaper, Guinean authorities stopped the diplomatic vehicle and uncovered the illicit contents based on credible intelligence. In addition to the contraband, a Laissez Passé document—signed and stamped by the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Conakry—was found, granting the vehicle permission to cross the border into neighboring Guinea. This document, typically used to facilitate official travel for international organizations such as the United Nations, has heightened suspicions about internal involvement in the drug smuggling operation.

The vehicle was reportedly driven by an embassy staff member, accompanied by an unidentified passenger. Both individuals are currently under investigation by Guinean authorities. While diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention generally protects such vehicles from search and seizure, Guinea proceeded with the operation, citing reliable intelligence as justification for the breach of protocol.

In response, Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Kabbah held a press conference on Thursday, announcing that Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, Alimamy Bangura, has been summoned to Freetown to provide a detailed explanation. Bangura, who was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident, will be required to clarify the circumstances and address the allegations implicating the embassy.

This scandal highlights a growing issue in West Africa, which has become a significant transit hub for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe. Between 2019 and 2024, an estimated 126 tons of cocaine were seized across the region or en route to it, according to AFP. The latest incident underscores the persistent challenge of combating drug trafficking in the region and the troubling infiltration of criminal networks into diplomatic and governmental institutions.

The international community will closely watch how Sierra Leone and Guinea handle this high-stakes case. Beyond its implications for Sierra Leone’s diplomatic standing, the case also brings renewed attention to the broader challenges of governance and anti-corruption efforts in West Africa.

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