Salone Drug Scandal Causes Ships from Sierra Leone to Undergo Thorough Scrutiny
The recent drug scandal that has placed Sierra Leone in a negative spotlight on the global stage has created serious challenges within the shipping industry. With Sierra Leone now labeled as a hotspot for drug trafficking, port authorities in several countries have become increasingly vigilant, subjecting ships arriving from Sierra Leone to intense inspections.
Before this scandal, vessels sailing from China to Sierra Leone typically spent between 45 to 50 days in transit. However, since Sierra Leone’s association with drug trafficking emerged, many larger ships now prefer to stop in Ghana or Togo, where smaller vessels are used to transport cargo to Sierra Leone. This change stems from the widespread fear that vessels departing from Sierra Leone will face exhaustive searches at international ports.
Similarly, cargo ships that have loaded goods from Sierra Leone are encountering major difficulties when docking at various ports abroad. These vessels, which would normally spend only a day at port, now often remain for two days or more due to extended inspection procedures—resulting in increased port service fees and operational costs.
Expressing frustration, one cargo agent—who requested anonymity—shared that one of his containers, shipped from Sierra Leone to Belgium, was intercepted and thoroughly searched in the Netherlands simply because of its country of origin. He explained that the delay forced him to pay additional charges to the shipping line, significantly affecting his business operations.
