Sierra Leone’s security forces have arrested 18 people and detained around 400 others in coordinated operations targeting a suspected international cybercrime network in Freetown and Kenema.
The early-morning raids on Tuesday were conducted in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA) and were based on intelligence reports. Authorities seized a significant amount of electronic equipment during the operations, including 1,206 mobile phones, over 500 computers and monitors, laptops, nine central processing units, and five servers. They also recovered 301 passports and 339 SIM cards, of which 289 were international and 50 local.
Further items confiscated included an iPad, translation glasses, a smartwatch, chargers, 22 dry-cell batteries, and an automatic voltage regulator.
The detainees include both Sierra Leoneans and foreign nationals from Africa and Asia. Their involvement has raised concerns about the potential for a cross-border criminal network, although authorities have not yet disclosed the specific activities the group is accused of.
Investigators are working to uncover the network’s operations, international connections, funding sources, and to identify those who may have facilitated its activities in Sierra Leone.
“The Government will not allow Sierra Leone to be a base for cybercrime,” stated the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. The Ministry, alongside NaTCA and security services, will remain vigilant against the misuse of the nation’s communication infrastructure.
The Government has promised a thorough inquiry, stating that anyone found guilty will face prosecution. The public is urged to report any suspected cybercrime or suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
These arrests and detentions mark a significant development in the investigation, though officials have yet to indicate whether further charges or court actions will be pursued.
