Experts on drug and drug-related matters from the 15 ECOWAS Member States began a two-day meeting today Sunday, 26th October 2008 in Praia, Cape Verde to review the threats and challenges posed by the drug scourge in West Africa and consider means to help strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and related organized crime in the region.

The experts include those working on drug policy development and implementation, drug enforcement and those active in social development. Members of civil society organizations active in drug and drug-related issues in West Africa are also participating in the conference which theme is "Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat to West Africa".

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As the Sierra Leone Police continues to investigate the alleged cocaine scam at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of crime, Francis Munu revealed that, there was no evidence to arrest Kemoh Sesay, Minister of Transport and Aviation.

There have been calls from the public and certain sections of the Media that, the Minister of Transport and Aviation be suspended by the president from his duty and that police investigate him as the political head of the ministry.

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Acting Chief Justice of Sierra Leone Thursday said those involved in the weekend Cocaine saga are in for a very rude shock.

Justice Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh told a symposium organised by Manifesto 99 and the justice sector coordination office marking the International Day of Justice in Freetown that illicit drugs destroy the youth and the image of the country.

"It is no longer business as usual in other countries such as Singapore , Thailand and Malaysia . There is a severe punishment for drug trafficking," she said.

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Security circles monitored by this medium were awash with speculations over where one box of cocaine could be presently located after intelligence reports indicted a close aide of a top Government official at State House as having been the culprit who whisked off one carton of cocaine at Lungi.

As our investigations continue on the abandoned drug plane, interesting information filters in every moment. According to our latest investigations, the box of cocaine which got missing from the load of 703kg in the early morning hours of Sunday July 13th 2008 has been alleged to have been whisked off by no less a person than an employee/associate of State House.

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The Sierra Leonean reaction to the cocaine fiasco has been astounding. But for few negative commentaries, most Sierra Leoneans have responded patriotically. What setout to be a drug smuggling deal from Venezuela through Sierra Leone, has become a setup for national unity against illegal drugs and corruption. One fact that cannot be denied is that the territorial rights of Sierra Leone were violated.

Who gave the pilot of the Cessna plane the permission to land in Sierra Leone? Who Okayed the flight to take off from Venezuela?

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"I Will Bring to Justice Even My Mom If She's Involve in this Drug Deal" President Koroma Vows

Sierra Leone's Transport and Aviation Minister, Kemoh Sesay, Foreign minister Zainab Bangura and Information Minister Ibrahim Kargbo have all been commenting on an incident that has overshadowed all government business in Freetown in the last couple of days with some members of the local press putting senior government officials on trial, while acting as prosecution, jury and judge at the same time.

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FREETOWN (AFP)- Police in Sierra Leone have arrested a total of 58 suspects, including a number of foreigners, in connection with Sunday's record cocaine bust in the West African state.

Deputy Inspector-General Oliver Somassa said those detained included Americans, Mexicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Brazilians and nationals from Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria. He did not give precise figures.

Others included local airport officials and five police officers. An air traffic controller and an employee of a bank at the airport were picked up trying to cross into Guinea, Superintendent Frank Sesay said.

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The guns may have fallen silent, the killings stopped and the terrorising of civilians ended. But the problem of drug use is still a reality in Sierra Leone, opening a new battlefront for the authorities of this impoverished country.

"This problem is assuming frightening proportions. If not tackled urgently and decisively it may consume a whole generation of our youths," Edward Nahim, Sierra Leone's only psychiatrist, said at his office in the capital, Freetown.

"About 90% of all mental health cases in this country that I have dealt with are related to substance abuse. It is alarming."

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