To serve as a deterrent to other importers and dealers dangerous drugs and substances in the country, the Sierra Leone Police, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, on the 23rd December, 2022, destroyed dangerous and prohibited narcotic drugs at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) Headquarters, situated within the precinct of the Sierra Leone Peace Keeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA), Hastings Campus.
This destruction of these harmful drugs was done in the public view of stakeholders and law enforcement agencies. These agencies and stakeholders included: The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. David Maurice Panda-Noah, Director of Public Prosecution, Easmon Ngagui Esq., Office of National Security (ONS), Head of TOCU, ACP Alhaji Kelfala Bangura,National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Fourth Estate, amongst others.
The burnt/destroyed drugs included:
- 135Kg of cannabis sativa.
- 5 Cartoons of pharmaceutical drugs (Tapentadol, Hydrochloride Powder).
- 7 bundles of dried leaves,116 packets of cannabis sativa and 7 bags of cannabis sativa that had been in the custody of TOCU.
- Over 2,000 cartoons of dangerous pharmaceutical drugs (Tramadol capsules etc.), which were confiscated at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay and stored at the National Revenue Authority’s (NRA) Customs warehouses at Cline Town, Freetown.