An elderly woman in Makeni, identified as Ya Kadiatu Barrie of Lawyer Street has been apprehended with alleged possession of illegal drugs.

Law enforcement sources confirmed that a search of Barrie’s residence uncovered 25 wraps of the synthetic drug kush and 55 tablets of tramadol. Authorities allege the substances were intended for sale to young people in the area.

Police emphasized that the discovery was part of an ongoing operation to curb the spread of narcotic substances in Makeni and across Sierra Leone.

No photo description available.

No photo description available.

The case will be pursued in accordance with the law as authorities continue their crackdown on drug distribution networks fueling youth addiction.

Ya Kadiatu Barrie is expected to be formally charged in court on Thursday.

The arrest comes on the heels of a strong judicial action in Kambia District, where a 30-year-old woman, Mary Conteh, was recently sentenced to 36 months in prison for possessing harmful substances.

Conteh, of Elizabeth Street, Waterloo, was arrested by the Kambia Police Division’s Operations Team on October 13, 2025, at the Kambia District Central Lorry Park. She was apprehended with seven wrapped parcels containing illegal substances.

Magistrate Joseph Toby handed down the three-year sentence on October 22, 2025, as part of national efforts to clamp down on the distribution of harmful substances. The ruling has been commended by local stakeholders as a strong deterrent to others involved in similar activities.