The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has honoured Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu for his commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to combat transnational organised crime.
INTERPOL specialists from its Secretariat in Lyon, France, presented gifts to IGP Sellu in recognition of his leadership and continued support for developing the Sierra Leone Police’s (SLP) INTERPOL capabilities.
During the presentation, INTERPOL specialists Ms Najwa Hemri and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sheku Bahja-Koroma highlighted several achievements since IGP Sellu assumed leadership of the SLP. These included increased local and international training opportunities for police personnel, the establishment of West African Police Information System (WAPIS) workstations across the country’s six police regions and at selected divisional headquarters, and efforts to enact data protection legislation. They also praised his leadership as chairman of the West African Police Chiefs’ organisation.
“Because of your passion and commitment to INTERPOL, we are pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone is the third country, after Malta and North Macedonia, and the first in Africa to benefit from Database Management Tool (DMT) training,” the specialists said.
The DMT initiative covers 15 countries and is expected to be completed by December this year. It is designed to provide improved technological tools and enhance the quality of information shared with INTERPOL, particularly in the fight against transnational organised crime.
The specialists also announced that a two-day workshop had been organised to train SLP personnel in the effective use and management of the DMT. The training is expected to strengthen officers’ ability to manage, analyse and share information through INTERPOL systems, supporting greater international cooperation against cross-border crime.
In response, IGP Sellu thanked INTERPOL for its continued support to the SLP, particularly in building capacity and strengthening the force’s ability to tackle transnational organised crime.
He noted that the sub-region faced serious security challenges, including the movement of small arms and other illicit goods across the Sahel. He warned that the southward movement of small arms was increasing as criminal networks sought access to coastal areas, potentially facilitating the trafficking of weapons and illicit drugs.
The IGP said he was confident that continued support from INTERPOL, alongside modern tools such as the DMT, would better equip the SLP to respond to emerging transnational security threats.
He also highlighted Sierra Leone’s participation in WAPIS and the ongoing training of police personnel as important steps towards strengthening the country’s contribution to regional and international law-enforcement cooperation.
“With Sierra Leone on the WAPIS platform and the continuous capacity-building of our personnel, I am optimistic that Sierra Leone will not be the weak link in the chain,” IGP Sellu said.
The recognition highlights the SLP’s growing role in regional and international policing, including intelligence-sharing, data management and joint efforts to combat organised and transnational crime.
SLP Media Team
