Freetown, June 2026 – The Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) of the Sierra Leone Police has officially clarified that there is no evidence to suggest the cocaine found on the MV Arconian, recently apprehended by Spanish authorities, was loaded while the vessel was in Sierra Leone. This crucial update was made public during a press conference held at the Police Headquarters at Kingtom Barracks.
According to TOCU officials, the MV Arconian arrived at Sierra Leone’s port on Friday, April 17, 2026. During its stay, all routine inspections were conducted by competent government agencies in accordance with their prescribed mandates. These inspections included thorough checks of the cargo and the vessel itself. The cargo manifest indicated that the ship was transporting 1,151 Perm Karnel Kegs, 50 metric tons of marine diesel fuel, and 15 metric tons of water. The vessel remained in port for a total of five days, staffed by 17 crew members at the time of arrival.
Speaking at the press conference, TOCU emphasized that extensive evidence — including port movement logs, CCTV footage of loading operations, and photographs taken during the loading process — revealed no official declaration or indication of any narcotic shipment being concealed aboard the MV Arconian. Furthermore, the terminal operator’s records confirmed that existing port security measures, such as access control, cargo monitoring, and coordination between security agencies, reported no incidents or suspicious activities that would point to the concealment of drugs during the vessel’s time within Sierra Leonean waters.
The police also affirmed that all necessary procedures and documentation were properly completed throughout the vessel’s stay. There were never any maritime alerts or reports flagging the cargo or the ship’s activities as suspicious or irregular while docked in Sierra Leone.
However, the investigation did uncover a concerning aspect regarding the crew composition. Initially, there were 17 crew members aboard when the ship entered Sierra Leone; however, the vessel departed with 23 crew members, including six additional individuals who were not accounted for during the port stay. Security assessments indicate that this discrepancy might have exploited weaknesses in the monitoring of Sierra Leone’s maritime domain, particularly beyond the 200-nautical-mile limit.
TOCU officials highlighted that the unexplained increase in crew members and differences in voyage times pose a significant risk of potential transnational criminal activities occurring outside Sierra Leone’s territorial waters. They stated, “The voyage time disparity and the presence of six unaccounted crew members indicate a significant risk of potential transnational criminal activities occurring outside Sierra Leonean waters.”
Though the Government of Sierra Leone has not yet received direct communication from Spanish authorities regarding the incident, efforts are underway to establish contact through diplomatic channels and other means to gain further clarity. The police have confirmed that the investigation into the case remains open and ongoing. The government remains committed to conducting an impartial and thorough inquiry to better understand all aspects of the incident.
This statement by TOCU aims to reassure the public and international partners that Sierra Leone upholds stringent security and monitoring standards at its ports and that there is currently no evidence implicating the country in the illegal loading of narcotics on MV Arconian. The situation underscores the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation among regional and international law enforcement agencies in combating transnational organized crime.
