Freetown, 7th March, 2026- The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), in collaboration with security partners, has destroyed narcotic drugs valued at more than NLe 1,680,318 in a symbolic exercise at the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) Headquarters in Hastings, Freetown.
Welcoming representatives from security institutions and the media, CSP Rev. Michael Laggah, Head of TOCU, described the destruction as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s fight against drug trafficking.
“This is not just a procedural exercise; it is a strong statement that Sierra Leone will not serve as a safe haven for drug trafficking and related crimes,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, ACP Brima Kamara Esq., representing the Director of Crime Services, explained that the destruction followed due authorisation and legal procedures. He stressed that the public burning of seized narcotics reassures citizens that exhibits are properly handled after court processes.
ACP Kamara noted that the exercise responds to public concerns about what happens to drugs seized during police operations. He emphasized the police’s role in crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution, while calling on citizens to support the fight against drug-related crimes by providing credible information.
According to ASP Stevens, Head of SLP Forensic Analysts, the destroyed substances included cocaine, kush, marshmallow, ecstasy, cannabis sativa, and other chemicals used in narcotics production.
Representatives from the Office of National Security (ONS), the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also participated. NDLEA Director of Operations, Mr. Ibrahim Kargbo, recalled that in 2025, President Julius Maada Bio convened a high-level security meeting that led to the formation of a special taskforce to disrupt drug supply chains.
The exercise concluded with the symbolic burning of the seized drugs, witnessed by security stakeholders and the media, a public demonstration of Sierra Leone’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in the fight against narcotics.
