In an ongoing effort to combat the illegal drug trade, Police in the North East Region, particularly in Makeni, have made a significant breakthrough.

Under the leadership of Regional Police Commander Commissioner Victor Manfred Williams, the fight against harmful substances, including Tramadol and cannabis sativa (jamba), has intensified.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, at approximately 1:00 PM, police received a tip-off from an informant in Makomp Bana Village, located in the Bombali Shebora Chiefdom of the Bombali District.

The informant reported that a woman had placed a suspicious bag on the veranda of a house along the highway, containing a large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa. The informant also noted that the woman appeared to be waiting for a vehicle to transport the bag to an undisclosed location.

Acting swiftly on this information, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Ghanawa Turay and his dedicated team mobilized to the scene. ASP Ghanawa Turay is Northeast region Operations Commander.

Following a strategic plan, the Operations team arrived at around 3:00 PM and positioned themselves to monitor the situation closely.

At 3:10 PM, a white Toyota Land Cruiser, registered as AMZ 683, arrived. It was driven by a man identified as Sorie Turay from Kuya Town, Kono. He proceeded to load the suspicious bag into his vehicle before departing towards Magburaka.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, ASP Turay and his team quickly apprehended the primary suspect, identified as Sia Grace Lebbie of Hill Station, Koidu, Kono District.

After securing the suspect, ASP Turay contacted the Officer Commanding at the Mayawlor Checkpoint along the Makeni – Magburaka highway.

The vehicle was subsequently intercepted, and the driver, Sorie Turay, was also arrested. The team transported both suspects to the regional headquarters, where they discovered eight compressed wraps of cannabis sativa and a substantial quantity of cannabis seeds.

Both Sia Grace Lebbie and Sorie Turay, along with the seized evidence, have been handed over to the Regional Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.