Hastings, Freetown – Friday, 6 March 2026
A huge quantity of narcotic drugs was on Friday, 6 March 2026, destroyed at the Headquarters of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) at Hastings, Freetown, in a symbolic exercise aimed at demonstrating transparency and strengthening the fight against drug trafficking in Sierra Leone.
Welcoming representatives from other security institutions and members of the media, the Head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit, CSP Rev. Michael Laggah, said the event marks a significant milestone in the country’s collective responsibility to combat the menace of drugs.
He noted that the destruction of the narcotics was not merely a procedural exercise but a strong statement that Sierra Leone will not serve as a safe haven for drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
CSP Laggah further stated that the exercise demonstrates the commitment of the Sierra Leone Police and its partners to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, adding that the public burning of the seized drugs reassures citizens that such exhibits are properly handled after due legal processes.
Delivering the keynote address, ACP Brima Kamara Esq., who represented the Director of Crime Services, said the exercise responds to frequent public concerns about what happens to narcotic drugs seized by the police during operations.
He explained that the destruction of the drugs followed due authorisation and proper legal procedures, adding that narcotic substances worth over NLe 1,680,318 will be destroyed during the exercise.
ACP Kamara emphasised that the role of the police within the criminal justice system is clearly defined, including the prevention and detection of crime, investigation, charging of suspects, and prosecution in collaboration with relevant institutions.
He also called on members of the public to support the police and the wider security sector by providing credible information that could help in the fight against drug-related crimes.
Speaking further, ACP Kamara, who also heads the Media, Public Relations and Sports Department of the Sierra Leone Police, underscored the need for policing strategies that meet national standards and objectives, stressing that the fight against drugs must remain consistent and collective.
Other security sector stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of National Security (ONS), the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), made meaningful contributions during the event.
In his remarks, the Director of Operations of the NDLEA, Mr Ibrahim Kargbo, recalled that in 2025, His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio convened a high-level security engagement which resulted in the formation of a special security taskforce aimed at disrupting drug supply chains and combating the influx of narcotic substances into the country.
Highlighting the climax of the event, the Head of the Sierra Leone Police Forensic Analysts, ASP Stevens, explained the various types of seized narcotic substances that will be destroyed, including different forms of cocaine, kush, marshmallow, ecstasy, cannabis sativa, and other chemical substances used in narcotics production.
The exercise concluded with the symbolic burning of the seized exhibits in the presence of security stakeholders and members of the media.
SLP Media Team
