The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Oliver Somasa has told a press conference that following the cocaine burst up on Sunday, 58 people have so far been arrested.
Among the 58 people arrested by the police, five were police officers and airport officials with some foreign nationals and the rest accomplices.
Inspector General of Police Brima Acha Kamara said the police have so far made the major arrests within 24hours but stated that the police only police the land not the air.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police informed journalists that when the police was informed about the incidence they went in to action and immediately secured the aircraft. He said when the aircraft was searched it was discovered that it contained 700kg of cocaine.
DIG Somassa further explained that the aircraft was under protective custody and the cocaine in the hands of the UN personnel and IMATT. He also disclosed that the police are searching for one Gibrilla Kamara (GK International) who they alleged is an accomplice of the drug traffickers.
A small 20 seater Cessna aircraft landed at the Freetown International Airport under cover of darkness at around 3am Sunday morning. The pilots and other occupants were said to have been picked up by a waiting vehicle which forced its way through the gate of the airport and exited the same way.
By Ishmael Bayoh