MONROVIA, Liberia, 21 October 2026 – More than 150 Sierra Leonean nationals have been allegedly trafficked to Liberia under false promises of lucrative jobs and scholarships, a Liberian anti-trafficking group has revealed.
The Liberia Anti-Trafficking, Anti-Scam & Victim Support Initiative (LATSVSI) says it is currently in touch with the victims, most of them youths, who are now stranded in Montserrado County after being lured across the border.
Executive Director of LATSVSI, Zokerseh B. Saye, disclosed that during recent outreach operations, his team identified thousands of foreign nationals, including Sierra Leoneans, who were brought to Liberia under what he described as “false impressions.”
According to him, the number is rising, with new cases being documented daily.
“We are appealing to the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Monrovia and the Government of Sierra Leone to urgently intervene,” Mr. Saye said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He said despite several official letters and calls to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Monrovia, the Mission has not responded, leaving the victims without consular assistance.
LATSVSI is now calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to:
– Dispatch consular officers to verify the identities of the affected nationals at its office on 14th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia;
– Work with Liberian authorities and LATSVSI to facilitate voluntary return;
– And take joint action to prevent further trafficking of Sierra Leoneans into Liberia.
“We reaffirm our readiness to support and buttress government efforts and facilitate all processes under Embassy leadership,” the statement added.
The latest incident mirrors a recurring pattern in the sub-region, where young Sierra Leoneans are trafficked to Liberia, Guinea and Ghana through QNET-style business scams and fake job adverts on Facebook and WhatsApp.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sierra Leone Embassy in Monrovia are yet to comment.
Victims’ families are advised to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown or LATSVSI on +231 8818 24711 / contact@latsvsi.org for verification.
