Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, has called on the government to extradite alleged Dutch drug suspect Jos Leijdekkers, who is reportedly residing in Sierra Leone.
He said such action would demonstrate the country’s genuine commitment to combating drug trafficking.
Hon. Kargbo stated that Sierra Leone cannot claim to be fighting drugs while allegedly hosting an international drug trafficker. He urged the government to move from “planning to concrete action.”
“A country cannot pretend to be fighting drugs when it is hosting an international drug lord who is presently attracting other drug lords into the country,” Hon. Kargbo said.
He warned that continued government inaction could further damage Sierra Leone’s international image and attract more criminal elements to the country.
According to reports, the Dutch government has formally requested the extradition of Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted drug trafficker, from Sierra Leone, and expects a swift response from Sierra Leonean authorities. The extradition request underscores the need for cross-border cooperation in tackling organized crime and may increase diplomatic pressure on Sierra Leone to act.
Hon. Kargbo also raised concerns about limited government support for the Ministry of Social Welfare and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, noting that their current capacities are inadequate for an effective anti-drug campaign.
He further referenced an earlier incident in which a Sierra Leonean embassy vehicle in Guinea was allegedly found with a substance suspected to be cocaine, criticizing the absence of police questioning of the then-ambassador, which he suggested raised concerns about possible government negligence or cover-up.
Hon. Kargbo called for transparency from the government on both the extradition request and the broader national drug control strategy to restore public confidence and the country’s international credibility.
“As the opposition, we are calling on the government to take action instead of continuous planning. We are tired of the bad image and embarrassment the country is presently facing,” he said.
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