Sierra Leone Ambassador To Türkiye Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba Engages Governor Of Istanbul Airport On Country’s Zero Tolerance On Drugs

 

Istanbul, Türkiye, Monday 11 September 2023 - Sierra Leone Ambassador to Türkiye, His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba has engaged the Governor of Istanbul Airport, Dr Mehmet İlker Haktankaçmaz; the Head of Immigration Department and the Chief Security Officer; and has told them that Sierra Leone has zero tolerance for drugs.

Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba requested for the meeting so that he could have first-hand information on allegations that drugs and other harmful substances were being transported from Sierra Leone into Türkiye.

Governor of the airport, Dr Mehmet İlker Haktankaçmaz told the meeting that between 2021 to 2023, a total of 600 Kg of drugs and other unlawful substances have been caught at the Istanbul airport from Sierra Leone, saying that of the 600 Kg, 450 Kg were Kush, 100 Kg of Cocaine, 6 Kg of Marijuana, and 5,000 Units of Tramadol.

“The Turkish government has opened a case against those Sierra Leoneans apprehended at the Istanbul Airport, the law will take it cause on those that will be found wanting. I therefore call on the authorities at the Freetown International Airport to tighten security. I think it will be good for the image of the country”, he concluded.

On his path, Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba thanked the airport authority for their robust steps and measures in tackling and clamping down on drug traffickers, adding that Sierra Leone and Türkiye have a relationship that was established in 1971; which he said was worth protecting.

Ambassador Kaisamba further said that since 2018, the Trade Volume between the two countries have seen an unprecedented increase, which he said was beneficial for both sides.

“The government of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has zero tolerance for drugs and indiscipline. It is good for the two countries to do more collaboration and put a stop to the transportation, and the sales of drugs and other harmful substances, he.

Ambassador Hassan Kaisamba assured that the government of Sierra Leone through the relevant authorities would put more measures in place to put an end to what he called a national embarrassment.

 

 

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Sierra Leone Embassy, Ankara, Türkiye

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