SLPHA’s Director General, Yankuba A. Bio
The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) is facing significant turmoil following revelations about a staggering 1.3 tonnes of cocaine, valued at £140 million, that was shipped from Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom. The shipment, which has sparked widespread concern, was reportedly concealed in large blue sacks labelled as flour, destined for an industrial estate in Wigan, Lancashire.
In response to the growing controversy, SLPHA’s Director General, Yankuba A. Bio, asserted that the issue is an outdated matter that has already been investigated, claiming no connection to Sierra Leone. However, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has contradicted this statement by confirming that the drugs indeed originated from Sierra Leone, raising serious questions about the integrity of the port’s operations.
Adding to the confusion, Martin M. George, the Company Secretary of SLPHA, criticised the UK authorities for failing to clarify the timeline of the alleged shipment.
He emphasised that a thorough review of their export data revealed no records of flour being exported during the specified timeframe to the claimed destination. “Data from ITS back this assertion: the scanning service provider and FTL, the container handling company, found no discrepancies in their records.”
The situation escalated further when it was reported that seven individuals had been sentenced in the UK for their involvement in this major drug smuggling operation. The crime, orchestrated by a Merseyside-based gang, involved intricate schemes to mask the cocaine as legitimate goods, ultimately leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. As investigations continue, the SLPHA is under increasing pressure to address the implications of this scandal on Sierra Leone’s reputation in international trade.
