Claim: SierraLoaded, a Sierra Leonean news page, alleged that cocaine worth $582 million, intercepted by German authorities, was shipped from Sierra Leone.
Verdict: False! According to an official press statement issued by German authorities and reports from credible international news agencies, the $582 million cocaine shipment originated from West Africa, not specifically Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, also said the claim was false.
Full Text
German customs investigators intercepted more than eight metric tons of high-purity cocaine. The massive shipment, which had an estimated street value of €500 million ($582 million), was discovered hidden inside a shipping container that appeared to be a routine commercial shipment of beans. The multi-million-dollar haul was uncovered by customs officials at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven.
However, Sierraloaded, alleged that the $582 million cocaine was shipped from Sierra Leone. (The claim is archived here. A similar claim is also found here and here.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check it due to its potential to mislead the public.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google keyword search and found no evidence to support the claim. The press statement issued by German authorities did not specifically identify Sierra Leone as the country of origin. It stated only that the cocaine originated from West Africa and was intended for Spain before being intercepted in Germany.
Based on reports by APNews, Euronews, AOL, and ABC News, all showed that Sierra Leone was not mentioned as the country from which the cocaine originated.
DUBAWA also contacted the claimant, requesting evidence to support the claim, but received no response.
We also verified the claim with Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, who said the claim is “untrue.”
Dr Moinina Sengeh’s reply.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s investigation found no credible evidence linking the cocaine seizure specifically to Sierra Leone. Official German customs statements and reports from international news agencies indicate the shipment originated from West Africa broadly, with Sierra Leone not named in any source. Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, has also dismissed the claim as untrue. The claim is therefore false.