SLPP backs Preso Koroma’s instruction on alleged cocaine scam

Following the arrest of an aircraft with a large quantity of white powder alleged to be cocaine, at the Lungi International Airport the main opposition, Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has welcomed the instruction given by the President for full investigation into the alleged cocaine scam but also to express their disappointment and concerns about the recent spate of drug smuggling into the country and the use of Sierra Leone for transhipment.
The SLPP, according to a press release signed by the party Secretary General, Jacob Jusu Saffa, accepted that, “although there were reports of hard drug trafficking in the past” , the situation has reached an alarming proportion during the past 10 months.
On Sunday July 13, 2008, a plane loaded with cocaine landed at the Lungi International Airport. Police investigations have started and the SLPP said, it shall continue monitoring the situation but that they strongly condemns drug trafficking to, from and within Sierra Leone. That, they welcome the instructions of H E President Koroma for full investigation of the saga.
However, the party urged the government to speed up this investigation and punish all those involved in such criminal conduct since they believe “that it is highly unlikely that a plane can carry such quantity of drug to a country without the knowledge and participation of highly placed government functionaries. The trafficking of drug and its widespread internal use, usually by our most valuable human resource, our youths, is partly responsible for the recent rise in violent conducts among these youths.”
The SLPP Secretary General said, the use of Sierra Leone as a conduit for drugs is a disgrace to the nation and a dent on our international reputation “SLPP is worried that this single incident may put Sierra Leone in a category of rogue state. The smear on our international image has implications for our citizens traveling overseas and for the government in accessing the much needed international funding for our development activities.
“SLPP urges all Sierra Leoneans to condemn this act and calls on the APC government to do all it can to save this country from international blacklisting, the release stated and called on the international community to help in the investigation.