By Sahid Bangura
In Sierra Leone, a notorious cartel of criminals has become a significant threat to ordinary citizens, defrauding them of thousands of dollars through deceptive car deals. At the helm of this operation is a man known as Abdul Kamara, who presents himself on his LinkedIn account as a car dealer from London, claiming to have a network of marketers in Sierra Leone.
Despite numerous reports from victims to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the cartel’s fraudulent activities persist, highlighting a troubling lack of serious action from law enforcement. Many victims have come forward, sharing their harrowing experiences, yet the response from authorities has been alarmingly inadequate.
The cartel often exploits young Sierra Leoneans seeking opportunities. They lure these individuals into marketing their cars, promising a percentage of the sales. However, once connections are made with potential buyers, the cartel fraudulently takes the money, leaving the young marketers to face accusations of conspiracy. Many of these innocent individuals find themselves in legal trouble, risking imprisonment for crimes they did not commit.
As a victim of this scheme, I was arrested and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for merely acting as an intermediary between a buyer and the fraudsters, unaware of their illicit activities. After a month of unjust detention, I connected with a lawyer from Makeni, who was also unknowingly marketing cars for the cartel. After sharing my evidence with him, we decided to collaborate to expose the fraudsters.
Our investigation led us to Guinea, where the cartel conducts much of its business. Under the guise of purchasing a car, we orchestrated a plan to confront them. With the invaluable assistance of two intelligence officers from the Sierra Leone Embassy in Guinea, Sergeant Nyuma and Sergeant Ngobeh, we successfully apprehended Francis Koroma, one of the key figures behind the fraud.
Despite this significant breakthrough, the Guinean police have failed to deliver justice. Koroma was released from custody under dubious circumstances, and I am still grappling with the stress of recovering my lost funds, a situation that reflects a broader issue: many Sierra Leoneans share similar stories of betrayal and loss, and their cries for justice remain unheard by the government.
In light of these ongoing challenges, I urge the Sierra Leone Police, investigators at the CID, the media, and all security personnel to unite in the fight against this cartel. It is imperative that we take decisive action to protect ordinary citizens from these fraudsters and restore faith in our law enforcement agencies. The time for action is now. We must work together to ensure justice for the victims and put an end to the reign of these criminals.
