By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The National Security Coordinator of the Office of National Security (ONS), Abdulai Caulker has disclosed that they have made several interventions against illicit cargoes at the Queen Elizabeth Quay, which he noted is due to them deploying their personnel at the quay and collaboration with their international partners.
Caulker made this disclosure at the government’s weekly press briefing on 9th April this year at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room.
“Quiet recently, we intercepted two containers at the Queen Elizabeth Quay and a huge quantity of drugs, including the killer Kush,” he maintained, adding that they are going after the rouges.
He went on to state that acting on intelligence, the Trans-Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) has cracked down on several criminal activities. “The TOCU is an inter-agency operation; it includes the police, Office of National Security, Anti-Corruption Commission, and Central Intelligence Security Agency and others,” he emphasized, noting all the operations are being led by the police.
He stated that over the last five years, “the country’s security sector has been confronted with several security breaches,” highlighting the August 10 violent riot and the November 26 failed coup. “Although the security sector robustly responded to these ugly episodes, they have all come at a huge cost,” he explained, saying social media has “negatively” contributed to all the national security threats in the past.
In their response to the numerous security challenges confronting the country, Caulker affirmatively said they remain alert to all security issues, and that all the security committees across the country continue to hold their regular meetings.
“Prior to the June 24th, 2023, Multi-tier elections, the security sector promised Sierra Leoneans and the international community that it had the capacity and commitment in providing an enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of elections in this country,” he recalled, emphasizing that they delivered on that.
The National Security Council which he said is chaired by the President provides “strategic” leadership for the responses to national security threats. “At the decentralized levels, we continue to meet and resolve critical national as well as community security issues, ranging from land, border, security society, cattle rearing and crop farmers,” Caulker said.
He assured the public that the general security condition in the country remains stable and called on the public to support them in ensuring peace and stability in the country.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (15/04/24)
