Illegal logging is laying waste to Sierra Leone’s endangered forests. Despite years of laws and bans, its precious timber is still being exported abroad and unless something is done the country’s woodlands will have been destroyed within a decade. So why can the authorities not do more to stop it?

In this edition of Africa Investigates, reporter Sorious Samura exposes the high level corruption that is stripping his homeland bare.

With an undercover team he discovers that an illegal multi-million dollar timber trade is flourishing under the nose of the government and that associates of one of the most powerful politicians in the country are involved.

In response, the government of Sierra Leone has issued a statement promising to investigate the matters raised in this programme.

Africa Investigates can be seen each week at the following times GMT: Wednesday: 2230; Thursday: 0930; Friday: 0330; Saturday: 1630; Sunday: 2230; Monday: 0930; Tuesday: 0330; Wednesday: 1630. Click here for more Africa Investigates.