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The Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, has commissioned a state-of-the-art Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) Forensic Laboratory at Hastings, marking a major step in strengthening scientific investigations into transnational organised crime, particularly illicit drug trafficking.
The new facility provides an improved working environment for the Police Forensic Laboratory and boosts the Sierra Leone Police’s capacity for evidence-based investigations and successful prosecutions. In his keynote address, IGP Sellu described the laboratory as a significant advancement in enhancing forensic capabilities, stressing that scientific evidence remains one of the most reliable forms of evidence in court.
He revealed that the laboratory was relocated from Connaught Hospital to Hastings to ensure full police control over forensic operations and equipment. He also ordered the redeployment of previously trained forensic officers to revive the dormant forensic laboratory at Police Headquarters in Kingtom.
Highlighting his broader vision for institutional transformation, IGP Sellu called on officers to specialise in their careers and prioritise institution-building. He noted that the TOCU laboratory is part of wider reforms, including infrastructure upgrades, specialised training, and modern policing equipment.
The IGP also cited achievements under his leadership, including the construction of the Police Mortuary, completion of the Aberdeen Police Station, Ross Road Regional Police Headquarters, Matru Jong Police Station, and rehabilitation of Police Headquarters and the Police Hospital.
Speaking at the event, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), described the facility as a strategic investment in tackling organised crime and illicit drug trafficking, while commending IGP Sellu for reforms within the Sierra Leone Police.
Also addressing the ceremony, ACP Alieu Jalloh, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), emphasised the importance of forensic evidence in modern policing, noting that it offers greater reliability than eyewitness testimony and would strengthen criminal investigations and service delivery.
The event was attended by the Sierra Leone Police Executive Management Board, the Office of National Security, NDLEA officials, and other security stakeholders, who highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating organised crime and protecting national security.
