Freetown, 14 November 2025 – The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has issued a detailed public statement addressing widespread media reports in Nigeria claiming that a container allegedly connected to Sierra Leone was found with cocaine at a Nigerian port.
The Authority says the report has generated significant public concern, prompting the need for clarity and verified information.
According to SLPHA, the container in question, numbered GCNU1332851, was mentioned in Nigerian news outlets, but as of today, no official communication has been received from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) confirming the allegation.
The SLPHA says it has formally reached out to the NPA for verified information and is now awaiting an official response to determine the accuracy of the claims.
In its public explanation, the Authority emphasized that transparency is crucial, especially in matters that may affect Sierra Leone’s international reputation.
To assure citizens and port users, SLPHA released comprehensive movement records from both the shipping line Grimaldi and the Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL), the operator of the Freetown Container Terminal.
Container Movement in Sierra Leone
SLPHA outlined the following verified timeline:
* The container is a standard 20-foot dry container.
* It was unloaded at the Port of Freetown on 13 September 2025 from the vessel Grande Atlantico.
* After discharge, the container was delivered full to the consignee on 8 October 2025.
* The consignee later returned it empty to FTL’s terminal on 11 October 2025.
* On 24 October 2025, the crew of the vessel Grande Ghana 0225 inspected the empty container, confirmed its status, and placed an official seal on it before loading.
* The container weighed 2,200kg at the time of loading, which matches the standard weight of an empty 20-foot container.
* The ship’s Chief Officer signed the loading report, officially verifying that the container was empty when it left Freetown.
* The vessel departed Sierra Leone on the same day, 24 October 2025, heading to Lagos with a scheduled stopover in Cotonou.
Arrival and Handling in Nigeria
SLPHA also shared information received from Grimaldi Nigeria regarding the container’s arrival and processing at the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) terminal in Lagos:
* The vessel berthed in Lagos at 23:38 on 29 October 2025.
* Offloading operations began shortly after midnight on 30 October 2025.
* The container was discharged at 13:00 that same day, still empty.
* Port operations relating to the vessel concluded on 31 October 2025.
* The container was later flagged on 7 November 2025, eight days after it had been offloaded.
SLPHA stated that based on all verified records, the container left Sierra Leone empty and arrived in Nigeria in the same condition.
The Authority has encouraged citizens to rely on verified information and assured the public that it will update the nation once official communication is received from Nigerian authorities.
The institution further reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining strict compliance with international port standards, ensuring transparency in all operations, and protecting Sierra Leone’s image in regional and global maritime affairs.
