The Judiciary of Sierra Leone announced on December 22, 2025, that the High Court has successfully convicted 20 individuals on drug-related charges in less than two months.

The convictions are part of an accelerated judicial effort to combat the growing menace of prohibited drugs within the country.

Since October 25, 2025, the Honourable Chief Justice has assigned 80 drug-related cases for expeditious hearing. Of these, 20 have been concluded, all resulting in convictions based on evidence presented to the Court.

The Judiciary emphasized the severity of the offenses by handing down exclusively custodial sentences. None of the convicted persons were given the option of a fine. Sentences ranged from 10 years to as high as 40 years imprisonment.

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The convicted individuals include Sierra Leonean nationals as well as foreign citizens from Nigeria, Liberia, and Tanzania. The Judiciary noted this demonstrates that “the law is applied without fear or favour, irrespective of nationality or status.” Notably, the list of convicts includes a law enforcement officer, Mohamed Dumbuya (identified as an ODS Officer), who received a 25-year sentence.

The offenses ranged from unlawful possession to the transporting and collecting of prohibited drugs.

Newton Johnson received the harshest penalty: 40 years for collecting prohibited drugs and unlawful possession.

Hawa Dukuly was sentenced to 35 years for unlawful possession.

Multiple individuals, including Jelika Conteh (convicted of transporting drugs), received 30-year sentences.

The Judiciary has stated that further updates will be provided in the coming year as the High Court continues to hear and determine the remaining pending matters.

 

No. Case Title Offense Date of Conviction Sentence
1 The State V. Sheka Kamara Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 23rd Oct, 2025 12 years
2 The State V. Abubakarr Sesay Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 23rd Oct, 2025 10 years
3 The State V. David Johnson Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 7th Nov, 2025 30 years
4 The State V. Newton Johnson Collecting prohibited Drugs & unlawful possession 11th Nov, 2025 40 years
5 The State V. Santigie Bangura Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 14th Dec, 2025 15 years
6 The State V. Zainab Donzo Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 20th Nov, 2025 20 years
7 The State V. Jelika Conteh Transporting prohibited drugs & unlawful Possession 20th Nov, 2025 30 years
8 The State V. Edward Bangura Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 20th Nov, 2025 15 years
9 The State V. Mohamed Dumbuya Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 28th Nov, 2025 25 years
10 The State V. Fatmata Kamara Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 29th Nov, 2025 30 years
11 The State V. Adama Kamara & Yeanoh Kargbo Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 1st Dec, 2025 30 years each
12 The State V. Sia Kamara Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 1st Dec, 2025 15 years
13 The State V. Umar Mansaray Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 8th Dec, 2025 25 years
14 The State V. Emah Bello Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 9th Dec, 2025 30 years
15 The State V. Emmanuel Cole Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 9th Dec, 2025 30 years
16 The State V. Ramatu Mansaray Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 9th Dec, 2025 30 years
17 The State V. Kadiatu Kargbo & Abdulai Bangura Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 12th Dec, 2025 30 years
18 The State V. Hawa Dukuly Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 15th Dec, 2025 35 years
19 The State V. Hawa Javombo Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 20th Dec, 2025 30 years
20 The State V. Hassan Mohamed Juma Alfai Shabani Mkobela Unlawful possession of prohibited Drugs 20th Dec, 2025 30 years