By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, October 7th 2025– A new study by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime has linked China, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to the importation of chemicals used in Sierra Leone’s deadly Kush market.
The research, conducted earlier this year, revealed that the synthetic drug is mixed with highly potent substances largely sourced from Europe. “This research confirms that Kush is composed of potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes, some of which are 25 times stronger than fentanyl, and synthetic cannabinoids commonly found in European drug markets,” the study disclosed.
Chemical testing showed that nearly 50% of samples contained nitazenes, a highly addictive and deadly substance forming a significant component of the drug.
Kush emerged in Sierra Leone in 2022 and has since claimed thousands of lives, leaving many more in critical condition. Despite its declaration as a National Health Emergency in 2024 by President Julius Maada Bio, the drug’s prevalence continues to spread with devastating impact.
The study identified China, the Netherlands, and the UK as key sources of Kush’s active ingredients. These chemicals are trafficked mainly through maritime routes and postal courier services.
Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, Chief of Defence Staff, raised concerns over the country’s vulnerabilities, citing more than 50 porous borders that serve as unmonitored entry points. “The country does not have security presence in those porous border areas, making entries easier,” Bangura warned.
At the launch of the Community Findings on Kush at the HIV Secretariat, Habib Kamara, Executive Director of SLYDCL – an organisation campaigning against Kush and substance abuse – reiterated the report’s findings. “We did a first FTRI test of nitazenes and a second test at a laboratory in France, which proved that China, Netherlands, and UK import the substances,” Kamara explained.
Local reports also echo same. An August 2025 Afrobarometer study confirmed that supply chains for Kush ingredients stretch across China, the Netherlands, and the UK.
The scale of the crisis is increasingly visible in many streets across Sierra Leone. Between January and August 2025, 142 dead bodies were discovered across Freetown – many believed to be linked to Kush, according to a letter addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor, by the Mayor of Freetown City Council.
Despite mounting evidence, the Kush trade remains a deadly business interest tied to international supply routes. With the health emergency still in force, Sierra Leone continues to struggle against the synthetic drug’s devastation.
