The Government of Sierra Leone has denied any connection to the massive cocaine seizure involving the vessel MV Arconian, insisting that no illegal cargo departed the country’s shores.
Speaking during the Sierra Leone Police weekly press briefing, head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), CSP Michael J.K. Laggah, confirmed that the vessel intercepted by Spanish authorities last month had indeed departed from Freetown, but stressed that investigations so far show the alleged cocaine shipment did not originate from Sierra Leone.
According to CSP Laggah, authorities believe transnational criminal networks may have exploited weak maritime monitoring systems outside Sierra Leone’s territorial waters, particularly beyond the country’s 200 nautical mile surveillance range.
Spanish authorities had earlier reported that the Comoros-flagged vessel, MV Arconian, departed Freetown on April 22 before being intercepted on May 1 approximately 430 nautical miles south of the Canary Islands.
The operation reportedly led to the seizure of 30,215 kilograms of cocaine packed into 1,279 bales, with an estimated street value of €812.2 million.
Providing details of the government’s preliminary findings, CSP Laggah disclosed that the vessel arrived in Freetown on April 17 and underwent standard inspections by relevant port and security authorities.
According to officials, cargo records confirmed that the ship loaded 1,151 metric tons of palm kernel tanks, 250 metric tons of marine diesel fuel, and 315 metric tons of fresh water before departing Sierra Leone.
Authorities said the vessel officially left Freetown on April 22 with 17 crew members onboard.
However, Spanish authorities later announced the arrest of 23 crew members following the interception, creating questions over the identities of six additional persons believed to have boarded the vessel after it departed Sierra Leonean waters.
Officials maintained that port documentation, CCTV footage, cargo manifests, and reports from terminal operators revealed no evidence suggesting narcotics were concealed or loaded while the vessel was docked in Freetown.
Investigators also clarified that the alleged vessel owner, Serenity Shipping Company, is not registered in Sierra Leone.
Security officials further pointed to what they described as suspicious irregularities during the vessel’s journey, noting that the trip lasted nine days instead of the usual six-day duration expected for the route.
Authorities believe the extended travel time, coupled with the presence of additional crew members, strengthens suspicions that illegal activities may have occurred after the vessel left Sierra Leone’s jurisdiction.
While Sierra Leonean authorities said they have not yet received formal communication from Spanish investigators, the government confirmed that it has already initiated contact through diplomatic and international security channels.
Officials assured the public that investigations would continue professionally and impartially in collaboration with foreign partners.
The government has also called on members of the public to provide any relevant information that could support ongoing investigations through the Office of National Security.
The case has attracted international attention following the scale of the cocaine seizure, which is regarded as one of the largest narcotics interceptions linked to a vessel departing from West Africa in recent years.