Kono, Sierra Leone – In a stern ruling aimed at combating the growing drug crisis, High Court Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura has sentenced Alusine Kemoh to 15 years in prison for illegally possessing the synthetic drug known as kush.
The verdict was announced on March 4, 2026, marking a significant step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to curb substance abuse among its younger population.
Kemoh, who was apprehended on November 11, 2025, in the Kono Judicial District, was found with 47 wraps of kush without any legal justification. He was charged with a single offense under Section 8(a) of the 2008 National Drug Control Act. After initial probes, the matter was escalated to the High Court, where prosecutors built a compelling case.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Bangura affirmed that the state had established guilt beyond any reasonable doubt. State Prosecutor Charles Foday Sesay highlighted during the proceedings that Kemoh had no previous convictions, portraying him as a novice in the criminal justice system.
In a heartfelt plea for clemency, Kemoh himself asked the court for mercy. His lawyer, Alpha Osman Kamara, echoed this sentiment, arguing that his client was a youthful first-time offender with strong prospects for rehabilitation and positive contributions to society.
Despite these appeals, Justice Bangura remained unmoved, labeling Kemoh’s actions as “utterly reprehensible.”
He underscored the devastating toll that drug offenses are taking on Sierra Leone’s youth, fueling addiction and social decay.
“The judiciary must send a clear message to would-be offenders,” the judge declared, emphasizing the need for robust deterrence.
Concluding the session, Justice Bangura imposed the 15-year term and mandated the immediate destruction of the seized drugs. This case underscores the government’s ongoing crackdown on illicit substances, as authorities grapple with the rising prevalence of kush and similar narcotics in the region.
