On Sunday, March 16th, 2024, Sierra Leone Police officers at the Kabala Divisional Headquarters, acting within the mandate of the National Task Force on Human Trafficking, intercepted a group of fifty-seven (57) individuals. According to a letter from the National Secretariat Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force, these individuals were on the verge of being trafficked to Mali.

The intercepted group comprised twenty-six female adults, fourteen male children, and seventeen female children, ranging in age from two months to fifteen years. Among those apprehended were Mohamed Amadu Jalloh, residing at No. 19 City Road, Portee, and Mohamed Sankoh of 5 Coker Lane, Portee in Freetown. They stand accused of orchestrating a criminal enterprise to traffic these fifty-seven individuals to Mali.

It is alleged that the victims were transported from Freetown, passing through Makeni and Kabala, in preparation to cross the porous borders of Koinadugu district into neighboring Guinea.

The investigation into this matter is being handled by the National Referral Mechanism, Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), Family Support Unit (FSU), and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) within the Sierra Leone Police. Meanwhile, the presumed victims are being referred through the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force Secretariat for psychosocial support.

This interception underscores the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights and dignity. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities are crucial in preventing such heinous crimes and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals.