Makeni, Sierra Leone — Friday, 31st October 2025:
A joint team of police personnel from the Makeni and Panlap Divisions, supported by regional headquarters officers, has conducted a massive drug raid across the city of Makeni and its environs, rescuing 123 drug addicts and transferring them to a rehabilitation centre along the Makeni–Kabala Highway.
The operation, led by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Victor Manfred Williams, was carried out in collaboration with the Mayor of Makeni City Council, Abu Bakarr Lamtail Kamara, and local youths. The initiative targeted users and dealers of harmful substances such as Kush, Tramadol, and Cannabis Sativa.
According to Sahid Arene Kabia (Gaza), Head of the Action for Rehabilitation Centre in Makeni, the move complements the government’s ongoing efforts to combat narcotic drug abuse that continues to destroy the lives of many young Sierra Leoneans. He commended the police, the Mayor, and the youth for their collective effort and called for broader community collaboration in the national fight against drugs.
Addressing the rescued victims at the Rogbaneh Police Station, AIG Williams assured them of the Sierra Leone Police’s continued commitment to protecting lives and helping drug users regain their health through rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Friday, 31st October 2025:
In a renewed effort to combat the growing menace of narcotic drug trafficking and abuse, the Calaba Town Police Division has recorded another major success in its anti-drug operations.
Acting on credible intelligence, the Officer Commanding Calaba Town Police Station, ASP Saccoh Kabbie Kharr, led a team of officers on a targeted raid at Faynkray Street, Calaba Town, where they arrested one Osman Kamara, a resident of Osman Lane in the same community.
During the operation, police recovered six hundred and twenty-eight (628) wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Kush, a synthetic drug wreaking havoc among youths in Sierra Leone
The suspect and the exhibits are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
This latest arrest underscores the Sierra Leone Police’s commitment to intensifying its crackdown on drug-related crimes and ensuring community safety.
2025.10.30 SLP Steps Up War on Drugs — 130 Suspects Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown.
Freetown, Sierra Leone — Wednesday, 29th October 2025:
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has intensified its nationwide fight against drug trafficking and abuse, resulting in the arrest of 130 suspects and the seizure of large quantities of suspected narcotic substances across the country.
This development was disclosed during the SLP’s weekly press briefing held at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess, Kingtom, where the Head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Michael J. K. Laggah, provided detailed updates on recent operations.
According to Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Dr. John Martin Senesie, the coordinated raids and checkpoint operations conducted between 20th and 26th October 2025 formed part of an ongoing national campaign to dismantle drug supply networks and bring traffickers to justice.
He emphasized that the SLP’s strategy combines strong enforcement with community engagement, adding that while arrests and prosecutions are crucial, public education and collaboration remain equally vital in curbing the growing menace of drug abuse.
The operations yielded significant results, including several high-profile arrests:
1.Kadiatu Barrie Arrested in Makeni
On Monday, 20th October 2025, at No. 7 Lawyer Street, Makeni, one Kadiatu Barrie was arrested with fifty-five (55) tablets of Tramadol and twenty-five (25) wraps of substances suspected to be Kush.
(Case awaiting legal advice.)
2.Abdul Akim Bangura Arrested in Kambia
On Tuesday, 22nd October 2025, at Rogbere Police Checkpoint, Kambia District, Abdul Akim Bangura was intercepted with 1,327 strips of tablets suspected to be Tramadol.
(Case awaiting legal advice.)
3.Guinean National Nabbed with Cocaine at Jendema Border
On Thursday, 23rd October 2025, Laurencia Kollie, a Guinean national, was arrested at the Gendema Customs Police Checkpoint, Pujehun District, with ninety-one (91) pellets of substances suspected to be cocaine.
(Awaiting forensic analysis and report.)
4.Major Kush Seizure in Makeni — Marie Keita in Custody
On Sunday, 26th October 2025, at No. 4 Congo Town Road, Makeni, Marie Keita was arrested with 200 wraps of shredded leaves suspected to be Kush, three half-filled black polythene bags containing similar substances, one half-filled bag containing green leaves suspected to be marshmallow, and one black electronic scale.
(Awaiting forensic analysis and report.)
5.Ibrahim Kamara Arrested in Makeni
On the same day, at No. 4 Campbell Street, Makeni, Ibrahim Kamara was arrested with sixteen (16) wraps of shredded leaves suspected to be Kush.
(Awaiting forensic analysis and report.)
Police data revealed that 174 drug raids were conducted nationwide during the reporting period, resulting in the arrest of 130 suspects. Of these, 51 have been charged to court, while 79 remain under investigation.
AIG Senesie commended all officers involved in the successful operations and reaffirmed the SLP’s commitment to sustaining the war on drugs through both hard and soft approaches.
He explained that the hard approach involves detection, arrest, investigation, and prosecution, while the soft approach focuses on community sensitisation, public education, and media engagement.
The Sierra Leone Police continues to encourage citizens to report drug-related activities within their communities and to support law enforcement efforts aimed at safeguarding public health and safety.
2025.10.25 Confusion as Elderly Woman Arrested With Kush in Makeni Fails to Appear in Court
Controversy has arisen over the status and location of Ya Kadiatu Barrie, an elderly woman arrested in Makeni this week for alleged unlawful possession of narcotic substances, including kush and tramadol.
According to Awareness Times Newspaper, Barrie failed to appear before the Makeni Magistrate Court yesterday, Thursday, October 23, 2025, despite an earlier update from the Police North East Media team stating she was expected to be arraigned.
When contacted for clarification on the suspect’s whereabouts, the Police North East Media team stated that Barrie had been transferred from Makeni in the early morning hours of Thursday and ostensibly sent to Freetown’s Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU).
However, the then-Head of TOCU, Police Chief Superintendent Mohamed Kugba Allieu, contradicted this report during a phone interview, stating that the suspect was “not in Freetown as we speak” as of Thursday afternoon.
The conflicting statements from TOCU and the police media unit have done little to clarify the suspect’s current location or the stage of the investigation.
Police Spokesman and Head of the Police Media and Public Relations Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Brima Kamara, later confirmed that the case had indeed been handed over to TOCU for further investigation, describing it as a routine process for drug-related offenses.
ACP Kamara explained that such transfers from Makeni to Freetown are standard practice and that the determination to charge Barrie will eventually be made by the Law Officers Department once the Case and Enquiry File is submitted.
Regarding the missed court appearance in Makeni, ACP Kamara noted that since the offense cannot be tried summarily, the new Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) permits committal proceedings in or by any Magistrate Court in Sierra Leone.
The official Sierra Leone Police social media accounts have not publicly updated on this specific drug-related matter, despite its wide circulation across various media and blogging platforms.
2025.10.23 Guinean Woman Arrested with 91 Parcels of Suspected Cocaine at Sierra Leone–Liberia Border
In a major success in the fight against transnational drug trafficking, Customs officers of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) stationed at the Jendema Border Crossing between Sierra Leone and Liberia have arrested a Guinean woman in possession of 91 parcels of a substance suspected to be cocaine.
The arrest took place on October 23, 2025, following heightened vigilance and intensified inspection operations led by Mujiru I. I. Kallon, Manager of the Customs Services Department at Jendema Border Crossing Point and Head of Border Operations for Sierra Leone.
The suspect, identified as Laurancia Kolie, holder of Guinean passport number 005017470, was intercepted at the customs checkpoint after reportedly passing through several security controls along the route. During the final inspection by NRA Customs personnel, officers discovered a substantial quantity of suspected narcotics carefully concealed among her personal belongings.
Following the discovery, both the suspect and the seized exhibits were immediately handed over to the Mano River Police Division for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with Sierra Leonean law. Authorities say the seizure underscores the NRA’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking, enforcing customs regulations, and safeguarding Sierra Leone’s territorial borders from criminal exploitation.
Commenting on the successful operation, customs officials at Jendema commended their team’s professionalism and vigilance, emphasizing that such actions demonstrate Sierra Leone’s zero-tolerance approach toward illicit drug trade and smuggling activities.
Border management agencies, including the NRA, have reaffirmed their resolve to maintain strict surveillance and enforcement measures across all official entry and exit points, ensuring that drug traffickers and smugglers are intercepted before reaching the country’s interior.
This latest arrest adds to a series of coordinated operations being carried out by security and border enforcement agencies in line with the government’s broader strategy to protect public health, enhance national security, and disrupt cross-border criminal networks. The suspect, Laurancia Kolie, remains in custody while investigations continue to determine the source and destination of the intercepted substance.
2025.10.8 Calaba Town Community Demands Justice After Man Beaten to Death Over Alleged Fuel Theft
Calaba Town Community Residents of the Calaba Town community are calling for justice after a man identified as Alieu was allegedly beaten to death by his co-workers over accusations of stealing a five-gallon container of fuel (locally called “one bata fuel”)
According to eyewitness accounts, Mr. Mohamed Barrie, a resident, said he witnessed the incident around 1:00 a.m. but chose not to intervene out of fear of being implicated. He stated that he saw five people, along with a driver making a total of six suspects involved in the brutal act.
Another resident, Mr. Alie Koroma, who later accompanied some of the suspects to the Waterloo Police Station, said he received a call around 7:00 a.m. from Mr. Sawaneh, the fuel manager, inquiring whether he knew anything about the matter. Unfortunately, by that time, Alieu had already died.
Following the incident, company representatives, including the HR personnel, met at Allentown Junction before proceeding to the Waterloo Police Station, where they provided statements.
The victim’s body was later transported to the 34 Military Hospital in Wilberforce with police assistance.
Mr. Koroma further explained that two companies are linked to the case one reportedly operating under Orange (IPT) and Angel Security. Two of the suspects allegedly work for IPT, while the driver, said to be directly involved, is employed by Angel Security.
He also confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, and a postmortem examination has been conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
The Chief Executive Officer of Angel Security, Mr. Conteh, reportedly owns the vehicle that was allegedly used during the incident.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing as the community and family members continue to demand justice for the late Alieu.
Three people were found dead in a house at Hastings in the Western Rural District of Sierra Leone on September 25th, 2025. The three corpses include a mother, daughter and grandchild.
Reports indicated that the sad incident came to the fore after a relative of the deceased (a son to the mother), who went to visit them, found out that they were dead.
Family, friends and community members are still in amazed as the cause of the death is still unknown.
As emotions remain high among the community, final respect were given to the corpses before they were finally laid to rest at the Hastings Cemetery, Western Rural District.
As some members of the community were left asking questions, police are currently investigating the incident and promised to provide update as soon as possible.
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