Three Sierra Leoneans reportedly face detention over drug trafficking in Mauritius

According to “LeMatinal,” three Sierra Leoneans were arrested for drug trafficking in Port-Louis, Mauritius, following a Flying Squad operation on September 11, 2023. The arrested individuals are Daniel Tamba Moiba (38, electrical engineer), James Koroma (36, businessman), and Fatmata Alima Bangura (21, student). 

The operation started at rue Saint Denis, Port-Louis, around 2:50 pm after a tip about foreign nationals involved in illegal activities. Moiba was caught as he tried to enter his Honda car and was found with 9.10 grams of cocaine during a search. Koroma and Bangura, also in the car, were taken to the Flying Squad office. 

Further investigation led to the seizure of six cocaine parcels and Rs 10,000 from the car’s glove compartment, suspected to be drug sale proceeds. A house search at Butte à L’Herbe, Grand Gaube, where Moiba and Koroma lived, resulted in the confiscation of 17 resealable sachets for drug planting. However, no substantial findings were made at Bangura’s residence in Palma, Quatre-Bornes.

Moiba was initially held at the Piton detention center, later transferred to Vacoas, while Bangura was held at the Moka detention center. On September 12, all three were presented in the Port-Louis court, facing provisional drug trafficking charges before returning to their cells.