Sierra Leonean authorities have detained four foreign nationals following the landing of a fourteen-seater aircraft at Freetown International Airport on Friday, September 20th, without proper authorization.
The aircraft, which was en route from Liberia to Mexico, was discovered to be flying under a false registration number, according to a statement by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.
Among those arrested are three Mexican nationals, including one who holds a Spanish passport, along with two Sierra Leonean air traffic controllers.
The crew initially claimed a radio failure, but further investigation revealed that the flight captain was paid US$20,000 for the trip.
While no suspicious materials were found aboard the aircraft during a thorough search by Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security has taken custody of the plane for further investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about the country’s role in international drug trafficking and money laundering, as Sierra Leone has been identified as a key transshipment point for illicit activities from South America and Asia to Europe and, to a lesser extent, the United States.
