A container seized by police for carrying a large quantity of the illegal drug kush has reportedly gone missing after being handed over to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for safekeeping, raising serious public concern and official questions.

The container, numbered TCNU 17239445G1, was initially intercepted on Wednesday, May 22, 2025, by the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

According to police reports at the time, the 40-foot container was declared as holding “Amazonian goods,” but an inspection revealed 25 bags containing kush and raw materials used in its production.

Following the seizure, Customs officials confirmed they transferred the container to the SLP for further investigation. However, months after the handover, the container’s whereabouts are unknown, and no official report on its contents or status has been released.

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The silence from authorities has sparked public outrage and speculation, with citizens and civil society groups demanding transparency. The case is particularly sensitive given Sierra Leone’s ongoing kush epidemic, which has been described as a national public health crisis devastating the youth population.

Key questions remain unanswered: Was the container destroyed, misplaced, or stolen? The lack of information has led to calls for an independent investigation to determine the fate of the evidence and to hold responsible parties accountable.

In the initial seizure in May, Detective Superintendent Abass Y. Bangura, Deputy Head of TOCU, stated that police acted on a reliable tip and that the investigation was ongoing to identify the owners of the container. No arrests were announced at the time.

Both Customs and Police authorities have yet to provide clarity on the container’s current status, deepening public mistrust and adding a layer of frustration to the national fight against the illicit drug trade.