By Amin Kef (Ranger)
According to an in-depth investigation conducted by this medium, serious allegations have emerged against Abass Huballah, the Proprietor of Besto Trading located on Free Street in Freetown, over what sources describe as a carefully orchestrated business scheme involving eight containers of frozen chicken. Also learnt was that through his bad and skewed management initiatives, additional seven containers were un-cleared at the Port for approximately over 150 days, accumulating demurrage, Port rent and shipping charges estimated at about US$180,000 totaling $196,000, including the amount of the one container he cleared.
Findings from the investigation suggest that the transaction, which was initially presented as a legitimate commercial arrangement was structured to supply poultry products to Abass Huballah, later descended into a troubling episode that has raised serious questions about the conduct and credibility of Abass Huballah in the deal.
According to information obtained during the investigation, the business engagement began in June 2025 when commercial discussions were initiated for the supply of poultry products to Sierra Leone. Negotiations reportedly progressed smoothly, with prices agreed upon and formal contractual arrangements concluded between the parties involved. The deal covered a total of eight containers, each valued at approximately $16,000, with the initial agreement stipulating that two containers would arrive first and that payment would be made in full through cash against shipping documents seven days before the shipment reached the Port of Freetown.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that arrangements were subsequently made for the shipment of the remaining six containers, bringing the total consignment to eight. However, investigators say the transaction began to unravel once the first two containers arrived at the port.
Evidence reviewed during the investigation suggests that Abass Huballah repeatedly delayed the agreed payment, citing a range of explanations, including alleged banking procedural issues and difficulties in accessing United States dollars. Despite ongoing communication and repeated reassurances, Abass Huballah presented what he claimed to be a SWIFT payment confirmation the shipping documents for one container were handed over to him, leaving the remaining seven containers at the port un-cleared. However, the purported SWIFT payment never reflected in the account and was later discovered to be fraudulent.
Despite providing assurances that payment was imminent, the promised funds reportedly never reached the account of the supplier involved in the deal.
Investigators say that one container was subsequently removed from the port by him without any payment being made for the frozen chickens. Meanwhile, the remaining seven containers remained stranded at the port under the custody of port authorities as storage charges and demurrage continued to accumulate over a lengthy period of time now.
Sources close to the matter described a pattern of repeated promises and postponements allegedly made by Abass Huballah, who is said to have continually assured that payment would be made “tomorrow” or “very soon,” only for those assurances to remain unfulfilled. The investigation suggests that the delays ultimately resulted in substantial financial losses linked to the consignment.
Investigators say the unfolding situation portrays what appears to be a sophisticated pattern of deception in which trust and contractual agreements were allegedly exploited to secure the release of goods without honoring the financial obligations attached to them. Observers familiar with the case have described the conduct attributed to Abass Huballah as that of a “smooth operator” in business dealings, carefully navigating negotiations and commitments while allegedly avoiding the responsibilities that followed.
Abass Huballah is reportedly the brother of Hassan Huballah, owner of Hubasco Business Entity, while their father, Pa Huballah, is said to own a foam factory located in Calaba Town in Freetown. However, the investigation conducted by this medium focuses primarily on the business dealings of Abass Huballah and the circumstances surrounding the failed transaction involving the poultry shipment.
At the time of publication, repeated efforts made by this medium to obtain comments from Besto Trading and Abass Huballah regarding the allegations proved unsuccessful. The investigation remains ongoing as additional details surrounding the disputed shipment continue to emerge.
