Following a contribution made by an APC Member of Parliament, Victoria Saidu Kamara, in parliament on Wednesday complaining about a security threat at the Freetown International Airport, the officer in charge at the airport, Karrow Kamara, has denied the claim.
The legislator had complained that the threat was due to the number of pilfering taking place at the airport‘s baggage section but Karrow Kamara explained that before any European flight used the airport, the security assessment was taken as the strongest requirement.
Mr Kamara said airline operatives residing in America and Europe, whose flights operate in the country, had conducted series of tests at the airport and had classified it as being of the highest standard.
“We are not saying that pilfering and tampering of passengers’ luggage do not take place at the airport, but not as stated by the MP. People who have traveled extensively will tell you that such things happen at all airports and in some places the rate of thieving is great,” he said.
Mr Kamara said investigations into the alleged act of thieving at the airport confirmed that 90% of the cases of pilfering reported did not take place at the airport itself but either at the airport of origin, or transit airport.
“We have sufficient evidence to establish this fact. The station manager of Astraeus Airline can attest to this and the director of Hope Sierra Leone who was a victim of pilfering from Brussels,” he said.
He further said many workers were arrested in connection with the issue and were charged to court, and banned from the Airport premises in accordance with the Airport Act.
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