On April 1, 2024, the Sierra Leone Police made a significant arrest, detaining Sam Walker, a notorious British drug dealer wanted in the United Kingdom for evading bail on drug charges. Walker, a self-proclaimed career criminal, was apprehended by Sierra Leonean authorities in Freetown.

The arrest unfolded dramatically, captured on video by Walker himself and subsequently shared on social media platforms. In the footage, motorcycle police officers approach Walker on the streets of Freetown, sparking a confrontation. Initially, Walker questions the officers' motives, claiming to document poverty and raise awareness about a young girl hospitalized due to contaminated water. However, the situation escalates when Walker boasts about possessing diamonds acquired from local mines, insinuating plans for a luxurious lifestyle elsewhere. This leads to a struggle, with Walker's phone knocked out of his hand before the video abruptly ends.

Following the arrest, a friend of Walker uploaded the video to Facebook, expressing concern about his well-being while in custody. Walker was released 48 hours later, after which he posted another video on social media, asserting that his arrest was a "misunderstanding" unrelated to the Sierra Leonean government. He commended President Julius Maada Bio's leadership and reiterated his intentions to assist those living in poverty.

Walker claims that his philanthropic endeavors will be funded through a newly established Sierra Leonean company named Chameleon Diamonds.

Reports indicate that Walker, aged 39, had been arrested near Bournemouth, Dorset, on February 14, and subsequently released on bail for suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. Following his release, he embarked on a six-day journey across continents, employing various means of transportation including private jets, cargo ships, and overland travel, spanning Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, eventually arriving in Sierra Leone.

Walker has a history of criminal activity, having spent a considerable portion of his adult life in and out of jail. In 2008, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after being caught selling heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Widnes and Runcorn in Cheshire, UK. His criminal network reportedly earned up to £2,500 per day before being apprehended in a police operation that seized £12 million worth of drugs, along with luxury vehicles, cash, and jewelry.

The arrest of Sam Walker underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat transnational crime and uphold the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing criminal activities that transcend borders.