The Presiding Judge in the Cocaine Trials, Justice Nicolas Brown-Marke of the Freetown High Court Number One, has passed sentences on all fifteen accused persons on six count charges ranging from accessory before the fact of the same offence, accessory after the fact to the importation of cocaine-a prohibited drug without lawful authority, misprision of felony, possession of cocaine-a prohibited drug without lawful authority Contrary to Section Eight (A) of the National Drug Control Act and conspiracy to import a prohibited drug.

The first, second and third accused were found guilty of count one, two, four and six and their jail sentences per count range from five, three to two years to be served concurrently.

In addition to count one, two, four and six, the first, second and third accused were found guilty on all other charges.

Passing the sentence, Justice Nicolas Brown-Marke said that the foreigners are to serve their jail sentences abroad in addition to the fines they are going to pay.

The Judge said that the Cocaine should be burnt within forty eight hours and that the air craft, a Cessna private jet, should be handed over to the Director of Civil Aviation and sold to the highest bidder.

He said that the arms and ammunition brought before the court as exhibit should be handed over to the Chief of Defence Staff.

Justice Brown-Marke said that the convicted criminals have the right to appeal within forty-eight hours. An expulsion order was issued for the foreigners.

The Defence Consul for the convicted persons argued that their clients should not be forced to serve their sentences abroad as it is the right of their clients to determine where to serve their sentence.

They argued that if a foreigner is convicted in Sierra Leone, he or she has an option to choose where to serve their sentences. They said their clients have said that they want to serve their Jail terms here as Sierra Leone is a foreign state and has not signed any extradition treaty.

Following the court proceedings, the seven hundred and three point five kilograms of cocaine were burnt at the Kingtom Dump Site.

The programme was witnessed by senior Government officials, International Military Advisory Training Team (IMATT) officers, members of Press and Civil society.

Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana thanked the security and justice sectors for the manner in which the episode was brought to its logical and expected conclusion.

He said Sierra Leone cannot sit back and allow all the gains she has made to create the safe and enabling environment for sustainable development slip into another era of instability, anarchy and fear.

Vice President Alhaji Sam-Sumana indicated that such organized trafficking of drugs through states like Sierra Leone still grappling with their economy has the potential of distorting it by an influx of illegal cash, while opening a flood-gate for political, social and economic instability.

He said Government remains committed to curb the drug menace and will continue to work with all partners and appealed to donor partners to assist the country in her quest for a strengthen internal security and justice sector.

The Inspector General of Police Brima Acha Kamara said with the saga reaching its conclusion, the Sierra Leone Police will redirect its resources to fight more crime.