SLP Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown on Drug Trafficking as 130 Arrested
By Aminata Kamara
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse, arresting 130 suspects and seizing large quantities of suspected narcotics in a week-long operation conducted from October 20 to 26, 2025.
Speaking at a press briefing held at Police Headquarters in Kingtom, Chief Superintendent of Police Michael J. K. Laggah of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), alongside Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Dr. John Martin Senesie, disclosed that the operation covered all regions of the country and involved 174 coordinated raids, stop-and-search exercises, and checkpoint inspections.
Among the notable arrests were:
Kadiatu Barrie in Makeni, found in possession of Tramadol and Kush.
Abdul Akim Bangura in Kambia, apprehended with over 1,300 strips of Tramadol.
Laurencia Kollie, a Guinean national, arrested at Jendema with 91 pellets of suspected cocaine.
Marie Keita and Ibrahim Kamara in Makeni, detained with large quantities of suspected Kush.
According to the police, 51 of the suspects have already been charged to court, while investigations continue into the remaining cases.
AIG Senesie underscored the SLP’s commitment to a two-pronged strategy that combines law enforcement with community sensitization. He urged the public to support the national fight against drug abuse, stressing that the issue extends beyond policing.
“This is not just a policing issue; it’s a societal one,” he said. “We need communities to stand with us in this fight.”
The SLP reaffirmed its resolve to sustain operations targeting drug syndicates and to step up public education campaigns, noting that substance abuse particularly the spread of Kush remains a major threat to public health, safety, and national security.
