In a significant escalation of the war against illicit drugs, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has arrested 130 suspects in a series of coordinated nationwide operations conducted between October 20th and 26th, 2025.
The announcement was made by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Dr. John Martin Senesie during the SLP’s weekly press briefing at the Kingtom Senior Police Officers’ Mess. AIG Senesie revealed that the week-long initiative, which included 174 separate raids and checkpoint operations, was part of an ongoing national campaign to dismantle drug supply networks.
The operations yielded several high-profile arrests across the country. In Makeni, Kadiatu Barrie was arrested on Monday, 20th October, with fifty-five tablets of Tramadol and twenty-five wraps of a substance suspected to be Kush. The following day, at the Rogbere Police Checkpoint in Kambia District, Abdul Akim Bangura was intercepted with 1,327 strips of tablets suspected to be Tramadol.
In a significant border interception, a Guinean national, Laurencia Kollie, was nabbed at the Gendema Customs Police Checkpoint in Pujehun District on Thursday, 23rd October, with ninety-one pellets of a substance believed to be cocaine. Further operations in Makeni on Sunday, 26th October, led to the arrest of Marie Keita, who was found with 200 wraps of shredded leaves suspected to be Kush, along with several other bags of similar substances and an electronic scale. On the same day and in the same city, Ibrahim Kamara was arrested with sixteen wraps of the suspected drug.
Police data confirmed that of the 130 suspects arrested, 51 have already been charged to court, while the remaining 79 are still under investigation. Most of the prominent cases are currently awaiting forensic analysis reports or legal advice.
AIG Senesie commended the officers involved and reaffirmed the force’s two-pronged strategy. He explained that the “hard approach” involves detection, arrest, and prosecution, while the equally vital “soft approach” focuses on community sensitization, public education, and media engagement to curb the demand for drugs.
The Sierra Leone Police continues to encourage citizens to report any drug-related activities in their communities to support efforts aimed at safeguarding public health and safety.
